Drugs requiring initiation by a specialist, but with the potential to transfer to primary care, within written and agreed shared care frameworks, and according to the agreed process for transfer of care. Transfer to primary care is expected to be the normal practice. Those drugs:

  • Requiring short or medium term specialist monitoring of efficacy
  • Requiring short or medium term specialist monitoring of toxicity
  • Requiring specialist assessment to enable patient selection

If the general practitioner is unwilling to accept the responsibility for prescribing the amber drug, then the consultant should be informed within one week of receipt of the framework. In such cases the GP must provide information to the consultant of all medical information regarding the patient and any changes to the patient’s medication irrespective of indication.

Documents marked with an  (*) require review. Please contact a specialist for further information.
Documents marked with (**) are valid until January 2022 as approved by HERPC May 2021.

Drug Name BNF Classification and Indication
Acamprosate

Alcohol withdrawal

Anastrazole

Chemoprevention of Familial Breast Cancer

Apomorphine

Dopaminergic drug - Parkinson's disease

Atomoxetine

Treatment of ADHD

Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Azathioprine**

Immunosuppression

Ciclosporin for Immunosuppression**

Immunosuppression in adults

Ciclosporin in Renal Transplant

Renal

Cinacalcet

Secondary hyperparathyroidism in end stage Renal disease

Degarelix

Treatment of adult male patients with advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer

Dementia Medicines

Treatment and management of dementia

Denosumab

Primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women

Dexamphetamine

Treatment of ADHD

Disulfiram

Alcohol Relapse Prevention

Erythropoetin

Renal Anaemia

Fulvestrant

Breast Cancer

Grazax

Treatment of grass pollen allergies

Guanfacine

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Hydroxychloroquine

DMARD and immunosupression*

Isocarboxazid

Treatment of depressive illness

Leflunomide**

Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug

Liothyronine

Hypothyroidism

Lisdexamfetamine

Attention Deficity Hyperactivity Disorder

Lithium

Affective disorders

Melatonin

Sleep disorders

Methotrexate for Immunosuppression**

Immunosuppression

Methylphenidate

Treatment of ADHD

Midazolam Oromucosal Solution (Buccolam)

For the management of Status Epilepticus in adults and children

Mycophenolate Mofetil

Immunosuppression

Mycophenolate Mofetil or Mycophenolic Acid (Myfortic) Post Solid Organ Transplant

Post renal transplant

Naltrexone in Alcohol Relapse Prevention

Alcohol relapse prevention

Naltrexone in Relapse Prevention (Opioid Dependence)

Treatment of narcotic addiction

Penicillamine**

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug - rheumatoid arthritis

Phenelzine

Treatment of depressive illness

Raloxifiene

Chemoprevention of famillial breast cancer

Sandostatin Analogues

Management of High Output Stoma (Off label Use)

Sirolimus

Immunosuppressant post renal transplant

Sodium Aurothiomalate (Gold Injection) in Rheumatoid Arthritis**

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug - rheumatoid arthritis

Sulphasalazine**

DMARD and immunosupression

Tacrolimus

Immunosuppression post transplant

Tamoxifen

Chemoprevention of familial breast cancer

Testosterone

Treatment of male hypogonadism and menopausal symptoms in women

Tranylcypromine

Treatment of depressive illness

Verapamil

Cluster headaches