Medicines Formulary

Medicines A–Z

V

Drug name	NICE TAs	Comments
Vacuum pumps		Green - if in line with SLS criteria
Vacuum pumps		Red - if not in line with the SLS criteria
Valproic acid as semisodium valproate tablets		Specialist initiation only
Valsartan capsules
Vandetanib
Varenicline (Champix®)	TA123 - Varenicline for smoking cessation
Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin
Varicella-zoster vaccine (Zostavax®, Varilrix®, Varivax®)
Vedolizumab	TA342 - Vedolizumab for treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis TA352 - Vedolizumab for treating moderately to severely active Crohn's disease after prior therapy	Hospital only - use in line with NICE Off label use - for the treatment of refractory immunotherapy-related colitis
Velaglucerase alfa injection		NHSE commissioned.

Drug status key

Formulary drugs are allocated a traffic light status. This provides guidance on where clinical and prescribing responsibilities lie in regard to the initiation and maintenance of prescribing.

Grey

Positive NICE TA and/or awaiting local clarification on place in therapy. Please contact your medicines optimisation team for more information.

Red

Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by specialists only.

Amber

Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by specialists and transfer to primary care prescribing when appropriate, or in primary care following a specialists recommendation. Prior to initiation some medicines may require committee agreement or a framework to support safe transfer and maintenance.

Green

Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by specialists, GPs and other qualified clinicians.

Blue

Under review at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.