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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.
Light liquid paraffin is an emollient that leaves an oily barrier on the skin, reducing water loss and improving hydration. Selected bath and shower preparations cleanse and soothe dry, itchy skin.
This paraffin-based emollient cream softens and moisturises dry skin. It forms a protective surface film that reduces water loss and supports conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis and ichthyosis.
Linaclotide is a gut-acting guanylate cyclase-C receptor agonist for symptoms of moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in adults, including constipation, abdominal pain and bloating.
Linagliptin is an oral DPP-4 inhibitor for adults with type 2 diabetes. It supports blood glucose control alongside diet and exercise, either alone when metformin is unsuitable or with other diabetes treatments.
This prescription combination contains linagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, and metformin, a biguanide. It is used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibiotic used for serious infections caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including some resistant strains. Treatment is normally started in hospital after specialist advice.
Liothyronine sodium is a synthetic form of triiodothyronine (T3), a naturally occurring thyroid hormone. It acts faster and for a shorter time than levothyroxine and is mainly reserved for severe thyroid-hormone deficiency or selected specialist-led situations.
Liquid paraffin is an oily emollient that reduces moisture loss from the skin. In the selected product, it disperses in bath water to soften and protect dry, itchy or scaly skin.
This paraffin-containing aqueous cream relieves dry-skin symptoms and can replace soap during washing. It forms an oily barrier that reduces moisture loss, but its sodium lauryl sulfate may irritate skin, especially in children with atopic eczema.
This oral expectorant mixture was formerly marketed as Mentholated Bronchial Balsam. It was licensed for symptomatic relief of productive coughs and sore throats, but the selected product is discontinued.
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that reduces appetite, increases fullness and affects glucose-dependent insulin and glucagon release. Selected products are licensed for weight management alongside dietary and physical-activity measures; other products may be licensed for type 2 diabetes.
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is a central nervous system stimulant prodrug converted in the blood to dexamfetamine. Selected Elvanse capsules are licensed as part of a comprehensive ADHD treatment programme under specialist supervision.
Lithium carbonate is a mood stabiliser used mainly for mania and bipolar affective illness. Safe use depends on regular blood tests because effective and toxic concentrations can be close.
Lithium citrate is a liquid form of lithium, a mood stabiliser used for mania and hypomania, prevention of recurrent affective illness, and some recurrent depression when antidepressants have not worked.
A live oral vaccine containing a weakened human rotavirus strain. It helps protect infants against gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus but does not prevent diarrhoea or vomiting from other infections.
Lodoxamide trometamol is a prescription-only anti-allergic eye treatment that stabilises mast cells. It is used for non-infectious allergic conjunctivitis, including vernal, giant papillary and allergic-atopic forms.
Lofepramine hydrochloride is a tricyclic antidepressant. The selected oral suspension is licensed to treat symptoms of depressive illness by changing monoamine signalling in the brain.
Lomitapide is a specialist lipid-lowering treatment for adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, a rare inherited cause of extremely high cholesterol. It is used alongside a low-fat diet and other lipid-lowering treatments, sometimes including LDL apheresis.
Lomustine is an oral cytotoxic chemotherapy from the nitrosourea group, used with other cancer treatments for certain brain tumours and other cancers.
Loncastuximab tesirine is an antibody–drug conjugate that targets CD19 on B cells and delivers a cell-killing payload. In the UK, it is licensed on its own for adults with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or high-grade B-cell lymphoma after two or more systemic treatments.
Loperamide hydrochloride is an antimotility treatment that reduces diarrhoea by slowing movement through the bowel. It treats symptoms but does not correct dehydration or the underlying cause.
Lopinavir + ritonavir is an antiretroviral combination used with other treatments to control HIV-1 infection. Lopinavir suppresses the virus, while ritonavir increases lopinavir exposure. It does not cure HIV.
Loprazolam mesilate is a prescription benzodiazepine hypnotic used for short-term treatment of severe insomnia. It can help when falling asleep is difficult or sleep is repeatedly interrupted.
Loratadine is a less-sedating antihistamine that blocks histamine involved in allergic reactions. It is commonly used to relieve allergic rhinitis symptoms and itchy hives.
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that reduces excessive brain activity. Selected products are licensed for severe anxiety, anxiety-related insomnia, procedural premedication and, for the injection, certain acute hospital emergencies including status epilepticus.
Lorlatinib is a targeted anticancer treatment called an ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It is used alone for adults with advanced ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer, either before another ALK inhibitor or after the cancer has progressed following one.
Lormetazepam is a benzodiazepine hypnotic that reduces brain activity and promotes sleep. It is licensed for short-term treatment of insomnia that is disabling or causing extreme distress.
Loteprednol etabonate is a corticosteroid applied directly to the eye. The selected UK product is licensed to reduce inflammation following eye surgery.
Lumasiran sodium is a small interfering RNA treatment for primary hyperoxaluria type 1, an inherited condition causing excess oxalate production. It reduces oxalate formation and is used under specialist supervision in people of all ages.
Lurasidone hydrochloride is an atypical antipsychotic. The selected product is licensed to treat schizophrenia in adults and adolescents aged 13 years and over.
Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide is a targeted radioactive treatment for certain neuroendocrine tumours. It carries radiation to tumour cells that have somatostatin receptors, with the aim of controlling progressive disease.
A therapeutic radiopharmaceutical that carries lutetium-177 radiation to prostate cancer cells expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). It is used for selected adults with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after specified previous treatments or when taxanes are unsuitable.
Lutropin alfa is a recombinant form of human luteinising hormone (LH). It is used with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to support ovarian follicle development in adult women with severe LH and FSH deficiency.
Lymecycline is a tetracycline antibiotic used mainly for acne. Selected UK products are also licensed for certain infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
Macimorelin acetate is an oral diagnostic agent that stimulates growth hormone release. It is used under specialist supervision to help diagnose growth hormone deficiency in adults; it is not a treatment.
Macitentan is an endothelin receptor antagonist used in specialist care for pulmonary arterial hypertension. It reduces the effects of endothelin, which narrows and remodels blood vessels in the lungs.
An osmotic bowel-cleansing preparation containing macrogol 3350 and electrolytes. It produces watery bowel movements to empty the colon before certain investigations or surgery; it is not the same as routine low-volume macrogol treatment for constipation.
Macrogol 4000 is an osmotic laxative that retains water in the bowel, softening stools and making them easier to pass. It is used for symptomatic treatment of constipation alongside appropriate diet, fluid intake and activity.
Macrogol cetostearyl ether is an emulsifying ingredient in a paraffin-containing skin cream. The selected product is licensed as an emollient and as a diluent for externally applied preparations.
mRNA-1273.167 is an mRNA vaccine that instructs cells to briefly produce the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 spike protein, prompting an immune response. It is authorised to prevent COVID-19, but its use depends on current official vaccination recommendations.