BNF for Children 2023-2024
ISBN 9780857114631
Published jointly by the British Medical Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group
The BNF for Children is the first choice for concise medicines information for children. Trusted by healthcare professionals across the world to support confident decision-making at the point of care.
The new edition provides up-to-date guidance on prescribing, dispensing, and administering medicines to children, plus legal and professional guidelines.
Recommendations in the BNF for Children have been constructed on the basis of authoritative sources, emerging evidence, best practice guidelines and advice from a network of paediatric experts. The process is overseen by a paediatric formulary committee.
Extensive content updates in the BNF for Children 2023-2024 edition include:
BNF for Children 2023-2024 is an essential publication, it provides you with:
Up-to-date information on prescribing, dispensing, and administering medicines
Authoritative, independent guidance on best practice enabling you to select safe and effective medicines
Information you know you can trust for quality, reliability, and independence
Everything you need at your fingertips, all in one book
New monographs for:
Aklief® [trifarotene] for acne vulgaris
Aubagio® [teriflunomide] for multiple sclerosis
Bylvay® [odevixibat] for progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis
Drovelis® [drospirenone with estetrol] for contraception
Epclusa® [sofosbuvir with velpatasvir] for chronic hepatitis C infection
Forxiga® [dapagliflozin] for type 2 diabetes mellitus
Imcivree® [setmelanotide] for obesity with underlying genetic aetiology
Magnesium citrate for treatment and prevention of magnesium deficiency
Ngenla® [somatrogon] for deficiency of growth hormone
Oxbryta® [voxelotor] for haemolytic anaemia due to sickle-cell disease
Rezurock® [belumosudil] for chronic graft-versus-host disease
Sibnayal® [potassium citrate with potassium bicarbonate] for distal renal tubular acidosis
Tezspire® [tezepelumab] for severe asthma
Volibris® [ambrisentan] for pulmonary arterial hypertension
Zepatier ® [elbasvir with grazoprevir] for chronic hepatitis C infection of genotypes 1 or 4
MHRA advice on:
Anagrelide: risk of thrombosis, including cerebral infarction, if treatment discontinued abruptly
Denosumab (Prolia®): should not be used in patients under 18 years due to the risk of serious hypercalcaemia
Dupilumab (Dupixent®): risk of ocular adverse reactions and need for prompt management
Metformin hydrochloride: reduced vitamin B12 levels and new advice for monitoring patients at risk
Methylphenidate hydrochloride long-acting (modified-release) preparations: caution if switching between products due to differences in formulations
Metolazone (Xaqua®): exercise caution when switching patients between metolazone preparations
Nebulised asthma rescue therapy in children: home use of nebulisers in paediatric asthma should be initiated and managed only by specialists
Pholcodine-containing cough and cold medicines: withdrawal from UK market as a precautionary measure
Topiramate (Topamax®): start of safety review triggered by a study reporting an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disabilities in children with prenatal exposure
Other significant changes include updated guidance on:
Specialist drug monographs: inclusion of the words “Specialist drug” alongside the monograph title to identify drugs used within specialist settings (such as drugs used for malignancy, and those given via intravitreal injection). These monographs continue to include information to support patient safety and non-specialist patient care (such as important safety information, interactions, side-effects, and contra-indications) but no longer include information which is within the remit of specialist care (such as doses, and directions for administration).
Adrenaline/epinephrine: recall of Emerade® 500 micrograms and Emerade® 300 micrograms auto-injectors, due to the potential for device failure [National Patient Safety Alert advice].
Pre-treatment screening advice on genetic testing for aminoglycoside exposure posing risk to hearing
Antibacterials for the prevention of secondary cases of diphtheria
Ceftriaxone: directions for administration
Contraceptives, interactions
COVID-19 vaccine
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators: hepatic impairment advice
Diphtheria vaccine
Management of epilepsy
Management of uncomplicated genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea
National genomic testing directory
Post-exposure prophylaxis for herpesvirus infections
Hydrocortisone: dosing for adrenal crisis
Ibuprofen: breast-feeding advice
Management of obesity
Antibacterial therapy for the management of acute sore throat
Respiratory system, inhaled drug delivery
Smallpox and mpox vaccine
Tacrolimus: pregnancy, breast-feeding and monitoring advice
Continuous glucose monitoring in type 1 diabetes
Management of lower urinary-tract infection and acute pyelonephritis
Valaciclovir: indication and doses in line with UK Health Security Agency recommendations on post-exposure prophylaxis for chickenpox and shingles