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Ketamine hydrochloride is a rapidly acting general anaesthetic that produces sedation, pain relief and amnesia. It is principally used in hospital for diagnostic or surgical procedures, alone or with other anaesthetics.
Ketoconazole cream and shampoo treat fungal skin or scalp conditions. Specialist-supervised tablets reduce cortisol production in endogenous Cushing’s syndrome.
Ketoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) supplied as a prescription skin gel. It relieves pain and inflammation from soft-tissue injuries, backache and rheumatic pain.
Ketorolac trometamol is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Selected UK products are used in hospital for acute pain after surgery or as eye drops to prevent and reduce inflammation following eye surgery.
Phenylephrine keeps the pupil dilated, while ketorolac reduces inflammation and pain. An eye surgeon uses this combination during adult intraocular lens replacement surgery to prevent pupil constriction and reduce acute postoperative eye pain.
L-carnitine, also called levocarnitine, is involved in cellular energy metabolism. The selected product replaces deficient carnitine in newborns, infants and children under 12.
Labetalol hydrochloride lowers blood pressure by relaxing arteries and limiting reflex effects on the heart. Tablets are licensed for hypertension, including during pregnancy, and angina with hypertension. Intravenous labetalol is used in hospital for rapid blood-pressure control or controlled hypotension during anaesthesia.
Lacidipine is a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure. It relaxes small arteries, reducing resistance to blood flow, and may be used alone or alongside other blood-pressure treatments.
Lacosamide is an antiseizure treatment for epilepsy. It may be used alone for focal-onset seizures or alongside other treatments for focal-onset or primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures, within product-specific age limits.
A topical keratolytic treatment that softens and removes thickened outer skin. Selected UK products treat warts and verrucas; some also treat corns and calluses.
Lactulose is an osmotic laxative that reaches the large bowel largely unchanged. It is usually used for constipation; one selected oral solution is also licensed for hepatic encephalopathy, including hepatic coma.
Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue antiviral that suppresses HIV and hepatitis B virus replication. Selected products are licensed for HIV as part of combination antiretroviral therapy and for specified adults with chronic hepatitis B.
Lamivudine + zidovudine combines two nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It is licensed as part of combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection. It reduces viral replication but does not cure HIV.
Lamotrigine is an antiseizure treatment and mood stabiliser. Selected UK products are licensed for several forms of epilepsy and for preventing depressive episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder.
Lanadelumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody used to prevent recurrent hereditary angioedema attacks. It does not treat swelling that has already started.
Landiolol hydrochloride is a highly selective, very short-acting beta-1 blocker given into a vein. It provides short-term control of rapid heart rate in monitored adult hospital care, including around surgery.
A topical emollient cream that softens dry skin and helps retain moisture. It relieves dry, flaky or chapped skin and several dry skin conditions.
Lanreotide acetate is a long-acting somatostatin analogue given by deep injection under the skin. It treats acromegaly and certain neuroendocrine tumours or their hormone-related symptoms.
Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces stomach-acid production. It is used for acid reflux and ulcers, including ulcers associated with anti-inflammatory medicines, and with antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori infection.
Lanthanum carbonate hydrate is a non-calcium phosphate binder used in adults with chronic kidney disease when dietary measures alone do not adequately control phosphate.
An oral targeted anticancer treatment that blocks HER2 and EGFR signalling. It is used with another anticancer treatment for selected adults with HER2-overexpressing advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
Laronidase is a recombinant form of human alpha-L-iduronidase. It treats confirmed mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I), targeting effects outside the brain and nervous system.
Larotrectinib sulfate provides larotrectinib, a targeted anticancer treatment that blocks TRK proteins. It is used in adults and children with an NTRK fusion-positive solid tumour when disease is advanced, metastatic or difficult to remove safely and there are no satisfactory treatment options.
Latanoprost is a prostaglandin-analogue eye medicine that lowers pressure inside the eye. It helps protect vision in glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
This prescription eye-drop combination lowers raised pressure inside the eye in adults with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension when either component alone has not worked sufficiently.
Prescription eye drops combining latanoprost, a prostaglandin analogue, and timolol, a beta blocker. They lower eye pressure in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension when either type alone is insufficient.
Lauromacrogol-400, also called polidocanol, is an injectable sclerosant used by trained healthcare professionals to close unwanted varicose veins in the legs.
An emollient bath additive used for dry skin conditions, including eczema and dermatitis, when severe itching is present.
A topical anti-itch and moisturising cream for dry, itchy or scaling skin. Lauromacrogols reduce itching, while urea helps the outer skin retain water.
Lebrikizumab is a biologic monoclonal antibody for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis when systemic treatment is appropriate. It targets interleukin-13, which contributes to skin inflammation, itching and barrier dysfunction.
Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody that removes aggregated amyloid beta from the brain. It is licensed for selected adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease and aims to slow, not reverse or cure, progression.
Ledipasvir + sofosbuvir combines two direct-acting antivirals that stop hepatitis C virus from making new copies. Specialists use it to treat chronic hepatitis C in adults and children aged 3 years and over.
Leflunomide is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug that reduces overactive immune activity. It is used under specialist supervision for active rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral capsid inhibitor used with other antiretrovirals for adults with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 when a suppressive regimen cannot otherwise be constructed. It is available as tablets and a specialist-administered injection.
Lenalidomide is an oral immunomodulatory anticancer treatment. It is licensed for specified multiple myeloma settings and, with rituximab, previously treated follicular lymphoma.
Lenograstim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that encourages bone marrow to make neutrophils. It shortens neutropenia around chemotherapy or transplantation and moves blood-forming stem cells into the bloodstream for collection.
An oral targeted anticancer treatment that blocks receptor tyrosine kinases involved in tumour growth and blood-vessel formation. It is licensed for selected advanced thyroid, liver, kidney and endometrial cancers in adults.
Letermovir is an antiviral used to help prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) illness in certain people after a stem-cell or kidney transplant.
Letrozole is a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor that lowers oestrogen production. It is mainly used after the menopause to treat hormone-dependent breast cancer or reduce the risk of it returning.
Leuprorelin acetate is a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist that temporarily suppresses sex-hormone production. UK products are used for hormone-sensitive cancers and selected gynaecological or paediatric endocrine conditions.
Levetiracetam is an anti-seizure medicine used to prevent seizures caused by epilepsy. It may be used alone for some partial-onset seizures or with other epilepsy medicines for several seizure types.
Levobupivacaine hydrochloride is a long-acting local anaesthetic that temporarily blocks nerve pain signals. Specialists use it for local or regional anaesthesia and epidural pain relief during labour or after surgery.
A less-sedating antihistamine used to relieve allergic rhinitis and urticaria symptoms, including hives and itching.
Levodopa is converted to dopamine in the brain and helps improve movement symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. The selected inhaled product is an add-on treatment for temporary worsening during an “OFF” episode; it does not replace regular levodopa treatment.
Levofloxacin hemihydrate supplies levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that kills susceptible bacteria. Products include tablets, intravenous infusion, inhaled treatment and eye drops. Systemic and inhaled forms are reserved for when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate.
Levomenthol is a cooling topical treatment. Selected UK products relieve headache when applied to the forehead or create a cooling sensation that eases the feeling of nasal congestion.
An oral expectorant for symptomatic relief of productive (chesty) coughs and sore throats. Squill and liquorice help clear phlegm, while levomenthol has a cooling, soothing effect.
Levomepromazine is a strongly sedating phenothiazine antipsychotic with anti-sickness, antihistamine and blood-pressure-lowering effects. Licensed uses depend on the product and include agitation, refractory nausea, severe pain and distress accompanying pain in terminal illness.
Levomepromazine maleate is a strongly sedating phenothiazine antipsychotic. The selected UK tablet is licensed for schizophrenia and as an adjunct for pain with distress in terminal illness.
Levonorgestrel is a progestogen used in different contraceptive formulations. An oral tablet provides emergency contraception, while an intrauterine system releases levonorgestrel within the womb for ongoing contraception.
Lidocaine is an amide local anaesthetic that reduces pain signalling in nearby nerves. Selected products numb intact skin before procedures or relieve localised nerve pain after shingles.
Lidocaine and prilocaine are local anaesthetics that temporarily reduce sensation by blocking pain signals in nearby nerves. Selected products numb skin or genital tissue before procedures, assist leg-ulcer cleansing, or treat primary premature ejaculation in adult men.
Lidocaine + tetracaine combines two local anaesthetics that temporarily numb intact skin before selected procedures. Licensed uses depend on the formulation.
Lidocaine hydrochloride is an amide local anaesthetic that temporarily blocks nerve signals, producing numbness. The selected injection is also licensed in hospital care for certain life-threatening ventricular heart rhythms.
This injection combines methylprednisolone acetate, a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation, with lidocaine, a local anaesthetic that temporarily numbs the treated area. It is used for selected inflammatory joint, bursa and tendon-sheath conditions.
Lidocaine hydrochloride with phenazone is an ear-drop combination for local pain relief in painful middle-ear conditions when the eardrum is intact. It does not treat the underlying infection.
This combination contains lidocaine, which numbs tissue, and phenylephrine, which narrows local blood vessels. A healthcare professional applies it inside the nose or throat before certain procedures.
A three-part injection used during adult cataract surgery. Tropicamide and phenylephrine enlarge the pupil, while lidocaine numbs the inside of the eye.
A local treatment for piles and anal itching. Lidocaine numbs discomfort, while zinc oxide soothes and protects the affected area.
An amide local anaesthetic that temporarily blocks pain signals. Selected products include a throat spray for severe sore-throat pain and an injection used by trained clinicians for local anaesthesia and nerve blocks.