Restrictions on sildenafil prescribing removed
Prescribers will no longer be required to annotate prescriptions for sildenafil with 'SLS' as it has been removed from the DH's selected list scheme
The Department of Health (DH) has removed restrictions which required prescribers to endorse prescriptions for generic erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil.
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The DH removed sildenafil from its selected list scheme (SLS) in an amendment to the NHS Prescription of Drugs Regulations 2014 on August 1. This means prescribers will no longer be required to annotate prescriptions for the generic erectile dysfunction drug with the letters "SLS". However, Viagra and generic avanafil, both also used to treat erectile dysfunction, have been added to the list and so must have their prescriptions annotated, PSNC said yesterday (August 6).
The generic drugs apomorphine hydrochloride, moxisylyte hydrochloride and thymoxamine hydrochloride have also been removed from the SLS list, which compiles drugs that can only be prescribed for specified conditions and patients.
The DH made the changes to the list in a response to a 93 per cent drop in the price of certain erectile dysfunction drugs after branded Viagra came off patent last year. The DH removed generic versions of the drug from the list to provide the "greatest benefit to patients", but maintained restrictions on Viagra because its price had not fallen, it said in a consultation document on the changes last month.
Although avanfil - sold under the brand name Spedra - was not as expensive as Viagra, it was still "significantly more expensive" than sildenafil and would have a "large potential cost" to the NHS if prescribed wihout restrictions, the DH added.
The August drug tariff wiould not include the changes, but it would be updated "in due course", PSNC added.
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