British National Formulary

Many individuals and organisations contribute towards the preparation of the BNF. It is jointly authored by the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS); and is jointly published by the BMJ Group (which is owned by the BMA), and the Pharmaceutical Press (owned by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society). It is published under the authority of a Joint Formulary Committee (JFC),[2] which comprises representatives of the two professional bodies, and the Department of Health (DoH).

Information on drugs is drawn from the manufacturers' product literature, medical and pharmaceutical literature, regulatory authorities and professional bodies. Advice is constructed from clinical literature, and reflects, as far as possible, an evaluation of the evidence from diverse sources. The BNF also takes account of authoritative national guidelines and emerging safety concerns. In addition, the Joint Formulary Committee takes advice on all therapeutic areas from expert clinicians; this ensures that the BNF's recommendations are relevant to practice. However, in September 2013, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK opened a consultation on its draft decision not to give NICE accreditation to the processes to produce BNF publications following a review by an independent advisory committee.[3]

It was first published in 1949[2] as the National Formulary, with updated versions appearing every three years until 1976. The fifth version in 1957 saw its name change to The British National Formulary.[4][5] A new look version, under the auspices of Owen Wade, was released in 1981.[2][6] A study in Northern Ireland looking at prescribing in 1965, reported that the BNF was likely able to serve the requirements of prescribers in general practice, while also achieving a cost saving.[7] By 2003, issue 46 of the BNF contained 3000 interactions or groups of interactions, with about 900 of these marked by a bullet.[8]

A new edition of the BNF book is published twice-yearly; in March and September.[1] As of April 2020, the current edition is 79, which was published in March 2020. It is a customary tradition that the colour of each new edition is radically different from the previous.[2]

The BNF is presently available as a book, a website, and mobile applications - the latter for use on smartphones and tablets.[2] The book is available for purchase, and the September edition is distributed to healthcare professionals in the UK at no direct cost to them.[1][9] NHS workers and healthcare professionals in the HINARI group of developing nations are entitled to free access via MedicinesComplete following registration (requires provision of a name, an address, an email address, and a phone number). Other visitors can subscribe to the BNF on MedicinesComplete.[10] Healthcare organisations can also subscribe to a customisable BNF via their corporate online intranet.[11] In June 2012, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released applications for offline access to the BNF on iOS and Android devices. An NHS Athens log-in is required to use this application, and monthly content updates are available, over an internet connection.[12] NICE also provides a website providing the content of the BNF to the public, including non-NHS users.[13]

The British National Formulary for Children (BNFC)[1][14][15] book, first published September 2005,[2] is published yearly,[2] and details the doses and uses of medicines in children from neonates to adolescents.[1]

The Nurse Prescriber's Formulary for Community Practitioners (NPF) is issued in print every two years (September, odd-numbered years), for use by District Nurses and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (including Health Visitors) who have received training to become nurse prescribers.[1][16]

The British National Formulary is divided into various sections; with the main sections on drugs and preparations being organised by body system.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• How BNF publications are constructed
• How to use the BNF
• Changes
• Guidance on prescribing
• Prescription writing
• Emergency supply of medicines
• Controlled drugs and drug dependence
• Adverse reactions to drugs
• Guidance on intravenous infusions
• Prescribing for children
• Prescribing in hepatic impairment
• Prescribing in renal impairment
• Prescribing in pregnancy
• Prescribing in breast-feeding
• Prescribing in palliative care
• Prescribing for the elderly
• Drugs and sport
• Prescribing in dental practice

Notes on drugs and preparations

1. Gastro-intestinal system
2. Cardiovascular system
3. Respiratory system
4. Nervous system
5. Infection
6. Endocrine system
7. Genito-urinary system
8. Malignant disease
9. Blood and nutrition
10. Musculoskeletal system
11. Eye
12. Ear, nose, and oropharynx
13. Skin
14. Vaccines
15. Anaesthesia
16. Emergency treatment of poisoning

Appendices and indices

• Appendix 1 Interactions
• Appendix 2 Borderline substances
• Appendix 3 Cautionary and advisory labels for dispensed medicines
• Appendix 4 Wound management products and elasticated garments
• Dental Practitioners' Formulary
• Nurse Prescribers' Formulary
• Non-medical prescribing
• Index of proprietary manufacturers
• Special-order manufacturers

• Pharmacopeia
• Specification (technical standard)

• Official website