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Methyl salicylate is a topical salicylate that increases blood flow in the skin. In Surgical Spirit BP, it is part of a highly alcoholic skin solution licensed to harden foot skin and help prevent bed sores. It is for external use only and must not be used on broken skin.
Methyldopa is a centrally acting antihypertensive that lowers blood pressure by reducing nerve signals that tighten blood vessels. The selected product is licensed for moderate to severe hypertension and may be used during pregnancy under medical supervision.
Methylnaltrexone bromide is a peripherally acting opioid-receptor antagonist used to treat constipation caused by opioid painkillers. In the UK, the selected product is licensed for adults when laxatives have not worked well enough.
Methylphenidate hydrochloride is a central nervous system stimulant used mainly to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can improve attention and reduce impulsive or hyperactive behaviour as part of a wider treatment programme.
Methylprednisolone is a prescription corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and suppresses immune activity. Oral tablets are licensed for a wide range of inflammatory, allergic, autoimmune, blood, cancer-related and endocrine conditions.
Methylprednisolone acetate is a long-acting corticosteroid injection that reduces inflammation and immune activity. It may be injected locally into joints, soft tissues or skin lesions, or into a muscle for a systemic effect when oral treatment is unsuitable.
An injectable glucocorticoid that rapidly reduces inflammation and immune activity, generally used in hospital for severe or acute conditions.
Methylthioninium chloride, also called methylene blue, is an antidote given into a vein by a healthcare professional for symptomatic methaemoglobinaemia caused by medicines or chemicals.
Metoclopramide is a prescription antiemetic that reduces nausea and vomiting. It acts in the brain and also promotes movement through the upper digestive tract.
Metolazone is a thiazide-like diuretic that helps the kidneys remove sodium and water. It is used for fluid retention associated with heart or kidney disease and can also treat mild or moderate high blood pressure.
Metoprolol tartrate is a beta blocker that mainly reduces adrenaline-like stimulation of the heart. It is used for cardiovascular conditions and migraine prevention; an intravenous formulation is reserved for monitored hospital treatment.
Metreleptin is a laboratory-made analogue of the hormone leptin. It is used alongside diet to treat metabolic complications caused by leptin deficiency in certain people with generalised or partial lipodystrophy.
Metronidazole is an antibacterial and antiprotozoal treatment. Systemic formulations treat or prevent susceptible anaerobic and protozoal infections, while selected skin formulations reduce rosacea spots and redness.
Metronidazole benzoate is used in this oral suspension to provide metronidazole, an antibacterial and antiprotozoal treatment. It is prescribed for susceptible anaerobic bacterial infections and certain parasitic infections, and may also be used to prevent anaerobic infection around surgery.
Metyrapone is a specialist endocrine treatment that reduces cortisol production. It is used to manage endogenous Cushing’s syndrome and in tests of pituitary–adrenal function.
Mexiletine hydrochloride is an oral sodium-channel blocker. The selected Namuscla product is used to reduce delayed muscle relaxation and stiffness caused by non-dystrophic myotonic disorders.
Mianserin hydrochloride is a tetracyclic antidepressant licensed to relieve symptoms of depressive illness. It alters noradrenergic and serotonergic signalling and can have a marked sedative effect.
Micafungin sodium is an echinocandin antifungal given into a vein in hospital. It treats serious Candida infections and can prevent Candida infection in selected people at high risk when other antifungals are unsuitable.
Miconazole is an imidazole antifungal. Selected oral gels treat superficial fungal infections of the mouth and throat, including oral thrush.
Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that causes sedation, reduces anxiety and can impair memory after it is given. Selected products are used around procedures, during anaesthesia and for intensive-care sedation.
Midazolam hydrochloride is a short-acting benzodiazepine that reduces brain activity. Oromucosal midazolam is used as rescue treatment for prolonged convulsive seizures, while injectable products are used for procedural sedation, anaesthesia and intensive-care sedation.
Midazolam maleate is a short-acting benzodiazepine with anticonvulsant and sedative effects. The selected Epistatus oromucosal product is a rescue treatment for prolonged acute convulsive seizures in people aged 3 months and over with diagnosed epilepsy.
Midodrine hydrochloride is a prescription-only vasopressor that tightens peripheral blood vessels and raises blood pressure. It is usually used in adults with severe orthostatic hypotension caused by autonomic dysfunction when reversible causes have been addressed and other treatments are inadequate.
Midostaurin is a protein kinase inhibitor used in adults with certain blood cancers. In FLT3 mutation-positive acute myeloid leukaemia it is used alongside chemotherapy and may later be used alone; it is also used alone for advanced forms of systemic mastocytosis.
Mifamurtide is a liposomal immunostimulant used as part of specialist osteosarcoma care. It is licensed for children, adolescents and young adults with high-grade, resectable osteosarcoma that has not spread, after complete surgical removal and alongside postoperative chemotherapy.
Mifepristone and misoprostol are used together to end an early pregnancy without surgery. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, while misoprostol opens the cervix and causes the womb to contract.
Migalastat hydrochloride is an oral pharmacological chaperone for Fabry disease in eligible adults and adolescents with an amenable GLA gene mutation. It stabilises certain faulty forms of alpha-galactosidase A so the enzyme can work within cells.
Miglustat is an oral substrate-reduction treatment for certain rare inherited metabolic disorders. In the selected UK product, it is used for mild to moderate type 1 Gaucher disease when enzyme replacement therapy is unsuitable, and for progressive neurological manifestations of Niemann–Pick type C disease.
Milrinone is an intravenous phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor that strengthens heart contraction and widens blood vessels. It is used in hospital for short-term support in severe or acute heart failure, including low-output states after cardiac surgery.
Minocycline hydrochloride is a tetracycline antibiotic that limits bacterial growth. The selected modified-release capsules are licensed for acne, although NHS England advises against routinely starting minocycline for acne in primary care because of its safety profile.
Minoxidil is available as scalp preparations for pattern hair loss and as tablets for severe hypertension. Oral minoxidil for hair loss is not UK licensed, although some specialist services use it off-label.
Mirabegron is a beta-3 adrenoceptor agonist that relaxes the bladder during urine storage. It treats urgency, urinary frequency and urgency incontinence in adults with overactive bladder. The selected product is also licensed for neurogenic detrusor overactivity in people aged 3 to under 18 years.
Mirikizumab is a biological treatment that blocks interleukin-23, a protein involved in inflammation. It is licensed for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease when other treatment has not worked adequately, has stopped working or cannot be tolerated.
Mirtazapine is a prescription antidepressant used mainly to treat episodes of major depression in adults. It affects noradrenaline and serotonin signalling and can cause sleepiness, particularly when treatment begins.
Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin that softens the cervix and stimulates uterine contractions. The selected product is licensed for hospital induction of labour; it also has specialist uses in miscarriage and abortion care outside this product licence.
Mitomycin is a cytotoxic antibiotic that damages cancer-cell DNA. In specialist cancer care it may be given into a vein for selected advanced cancers or placed directly into the bladder to reduce recurrence after tumour removal.
Mitotane is an antineoplastic treatment that targets the adrenal cortex. In the UK, it is licensed to treat symptoms of advanced adrenocortical carcinoma that cannot be removed surgically, has spread or has returned.
Mitoxantrone hydrochloride is a cytotoxic anthracenedione that damages DNA and prevents cancer cells from multiplying. It is used for selected blood cancers, metastatic breast cancer and palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Mivacurium chloride is a short-acting neuromuscular blocker used with general anaesthesia. It temporarily relaxes skeletal and breathing muscles to support tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation during procedures.
Moclobemide is an antidepressant that reversibly inhibits monoamine oxidase type A. Selected products are licensed for major depression; Manerix is also licensed for social phobia.
Modafinil is a prescription-only wakefulness-promoting treatment for excessive sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy, with or without cataplexy. It does not replace adequate sleep and may not completely remove sleepiness.
Mogamulizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets CCR4 on certain T cells. It is used for adults with mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome after previous systemic treatment.
Molnupiravir is a direct-acting antiviral used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19. Its UK licence covers adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and at least one risk factor for severe illness.
Momelotinib is an oral protein kinase inhibitor used by specialist cancer teams. It treats an enlarged spleen and other disease-related symptoms in adults with certain forms of myelofibrosis and moderate to severe anaemia.
This prescription nasal spray combines olopatadine, an antihistamine, with mometasone, a corticosteroid. It is used to relieve moderate to severe nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over.
Moroctocog alfa is a recombinant form of clotting factor VIII. It replaces deficient factor VIII to prevent or control bleeding in people with haemophilia A.
Mosunetuzumab is a bispecific monoclonal antibody that helps T cells recognise and destroy abnormal B cells. It is licensed on its own for adults with follicular lymphoma that has returned or not responded after at least two previous systemic treatments.
Moxifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that kills susceptible bacteria. Selected tablets treat certain infections when commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate; eye drops treat purulent bacterial conjunctivitis.
Moxonidine is a centrally acting antihypertensive licensed in the selected UK product for mild to moderate essential hypertension. It lowers blood pressure by reducing sympathetic nerve activity.
This topical combination contains an anti-inflammatory heparinoid-like substance and salicylic acid. It is used for local symptomatic relief of muscle pain and stiffness, sprains, strains and pain from rheumatic or non-serious arthritic conditions.
Mupirocin is a topical antibiotic used on the skin or inside the nose for certain local bacterial infections, infected minor wounds, or nasal carriage of staphylococci including MRSA.
Mupirocin calcium is a locally acting antibiotic nasal ointment used to clear staphylococcal bacteria, including susceptible MRSA, carried inside the nose.
Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressant that reduces the activity of immune cells called lymphocytes. Its licensed role is to help prevent rejection after a kidney, heart or liver transplant, alongside other immunosuppressants.
An intravenous immunosuppressant converted to mycophenolic acid, used with ciclosporin and corticosteroids to prevent acute rejection after adult kidney or liver transplantation.
An immunosuppressant that reduces immune-cell activity involved in transplant rejection. The selected gastro-resistant tablet is licensed with other immunosuppressants to help prevent acute rejection after an adult kidney transplant.
Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid capsule with effects similar to THC. It is licensed for adults with nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy when conventional anti-sickness treatments have not worked adequately.
Nabumetone is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Nadolol is a long-acting, non-selective beta blocker. It is licensed to manage angina, high blood pressure and fast abnormal heart rhythms, prevent migraine, and control symptoms of thyrotoxicosis.
Nafarelin acetate is a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist nasal spray. It lowers ovarian hormone production and is licensed for endometriosis and specialist-supervised IVF programmes.
Naldemedine tosylate is a peripherally acting opioid-receptor antagonist used to treat constipation caused by opioid pain medicines. In the UK, it is licensed for adults who have previously been treated with a laxative.