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Patisiran sodium is a small interfering RNA treatment that reduces production of transthyretin protein in the liver. It is used for adults with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis affecting the nerves.
Pazopanib hydrochloride is an oral targeted anticancer treatment called a multikinase inhibitor. It is used in adults with advanced kidney cancer and selected advanced soft-tissue sarcomas.
Pegaspargase is an enzyme-based cancer treatment used for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). It is given with other anticancer treatments to adults and children, including babies.
Pegcetacoplan is a complement inhibitor given by infusion under the skin. In the UK, it is used for haemolytic anaemia caused by paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH), and for specified complement-mediated kidney diseases.
Pegfilgrastim is a long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor that helps bone marrow produce and release neutrophils. It is used in adults receiving certain cancer chemotherapy to shorten neutropenia and reduce febrile neutropenia.
Peginterferon alfa-2a is a long-acting interferon given by injection. It is licensed for polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia and selected people with chronic hepatitis B or C.
Peginterferon beta-1a is a long-acting interferon beta treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults. It aims to reduce inflammatory disease activity; it does not cure MS or repair existing nerve damage.
Pegunigalsidase alfa is an enzyme replacement therapy for adults with confirmed Fabry disease. It replaces deficient alpha-galactosidase A, helping reduce the build-up of fatty substances within cells.
Pegvisomant is a growth hormone receptor antagonist used to control acromegaly in adults. It is usually considered when surgery or radiotherapy has not controlled the condition and somatostatin analogue treatment has been ineffective or not tolerated.
Pegzilarginase is a modified recombinant human arginase enzyme used to treat arginase 1 deficiency, also called hyperargininaemia. It lowers excess arginine and is used alongside individualised dietary and other disease management.
An oral herbal preparation containing a dry extract of Pelargonium root from one or both named species. It is registered to relieve common-cold symptoms such as cough, sore throat and a blocked or runny nose, based on traditional use rather than demonstrated clinical effectiveness.
Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody and immune checkpoint inhibitor used to treat several cancers. It may be used alone or alongside other cancer treatments, depending on the cancer type, stage and tumour-test results.
Pemetrexed diarginine is an antifolate chemotherapy given into a vein. It is used in adults with certain non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers and, with cisplatin, unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Pemetrexed disodium is an antifolate chemotherapy that interferes with processes cancer cells need to make DNA. In the UK, it is licensed for selected non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers and, with cisplatin, unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Pemetrexed disodium hemipentahydrate is a cytotoxic antifolate chemotherapy used in adults for unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma and certain locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers, with cisplatin or alone depending on the treatment setting.
Pemetrexed disodium heptahydrate is an intravenous antifolate chemotherapy that disrupts processes cancer cells need to make DNA. It is licensed for selected non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers and, with cisplatin, unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Pemetrexed disodium hydrate is a cytotoxic antifolate that disrupts processes cancer cells need to make DNA. It is used for malignant pleural mesothelioma and selected non-small-cell lung cancers, either alone or with cisplatin depending on the clinical setting.
Pemigatinib is an oral targeted cancer treatment that blocks fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs). In the UK, it is licensed for certain adults with advanced bile duct cancer whose tumour has an FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement and has progressed after previous systemic treatment.
Penicillamine is a chelating agent and disease-modifying antirheumatic treatment. It is mainly used to remove excess copper or lead, reduce cystine stone formation, or treat severe active rheumatoid arthritis when other treatment has not worked.
Pentamidine isetionate is an antiparasitic treatment used for several serious infections. Its main roles include preventing or treating Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and treating leishmaniasis or early-stage West African sleeping sickness.
Pentostatin is a purine-analogue anticancer treatment that inhibits adenosine deaminase. In the UK, it is licensed as single-agent treatment for adults with hairy cell leukaemia.
Pentoxifylline is a peripheral vasodilator that alters blood-flow properties in small vessels. Selected UK products are licensed for peripheral vascular disease, including intermittent claudication and ischaemic rest pain, although evidence for improving walking ability in intermittent claudication is uncertain.
Peppermint oil is a herbal antispasmodic that relaxes bowel muscle. Gastro-resistant capsules are used mainly to relieve abdominal cramps, bloating and wind associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Perampanel is a prescription anti-seizure treatment that reduces excitatory signalling in the brain. Selected UK products are licensed alongside other anti-seizure treatments for certain focal and generalised seizures.
Perflutren is an ultrasound contrast agent containing tiny gas-filled human-albumin microspheres. It is injected into a vein during an echocardiogram when ordinary images do not show the heart's left chamber and wall movement clearly enough.
Pericyazine is a first-generation phenothiazine antipsychotic with marked sedative effects. In adults, it is mainly used for schizophrenia and other psychoses, or as an adjunct in short-term management of severe agitation, anxiety or dangerously impulsive behaviour.
Permethrin is a topical synthetic pyrethroid that kills scabies mites and lice by disrupting their nerve-cell function. The selected cream is licensed for scabies in adults and children from 2 months, and for crab lice in adults.
Pertuzumab is a targeted monoclonal antibody used for HER2-positive breast cancer. It is usually combined with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for selected early, locally advanced or metastatic disease.
Pertuzumab and trastuzumab are targeted monoclonal antibodies that attach to different parts of the HER2 protein. The fixed combination is used with chemotherapy for selected adults with HER2-positive early or advanced breast cancer.
Phenelzine sulfate is an irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant. It is licensed for certain depressive illnesses, particularly where anxiety or phobic features are prominent or other antidepressants have not worked.
Phenindione is an oral vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant that reduces the formation of several clotting factors. It is licensed to prevent or treat specified blood clots and requires regular blood-test monitoring.
Phenobarbital is a long-acting barbiturate antiseizure treatment. The selected elixir is licensed for epilepsy other than absence seizures. It can cause sedation and has many clinically important interactions.
Phenobarbital sodium is a long-acting barbiturate antiseizure treatment licensed for epilepsy other than absence seizures. It can cause sedation.
Phenol is a sclerosing agent with local pain-relieving properties. The selected oily injection is used by clinicians to treat internal haemorrhoids, causing them to scar and shrink.
Phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride is a long-acting, non-selective alpha blocker used by specialist teams to control hypertensive episodes caused by phaeochromocytoma, including preparation for tumour surgery.
Phenylephrine hydrochloride is a sympathomimetic that narrows blood vessels. Depending on formulation, it is used for nasal congestion, pupil dilation during eye procedures, or low blood pressure during anaesthesia.
This combination is an ophthalmic insert that temporarily enlarges the pupil before eye surgery or diagnostic examination when a single pupil-dilating agent is unlikely to be sufficient.
Phenytoin is an antiseizure treatment that reduces the spread of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is mainly used for focal and tonic-clonic seizures, including seizures associated with neurosurgery or severe head injury.
Phenytoin sodium is an antiseizure treatment that helps prevent abnormal electrical activity from spreading through the brain. Oral products are mainly used for selected focal and tonic-clonic seizures, while injections are reserved for specific hospital indications.
Pholcodine monohydrate was a centrally acting opioid cough suppressant for short-term relief of dry, non-productive cough. All pholcodine-containing medicines were withdrawn from the UK market in March 2023 because benefits did not outweigh a very small increased risk of severe allergic reactions to certain medicines used during general anaesthesia.
Phytomenadione is vitamin K1, which the liver needs to produce proteins involved in blood clotting. It is used to prevent or treat vitamin K deficiency bleeding in babies and to reverse coumarin anticoagulants such as warfarin when clinically required.
Pilocarpine hydrochloride activates muscarinic receptors. Tablets stimulate saliva and tears in specific dry-mouth conditions, while eye drops constrict the pupil and help lower pressure inside the eye.
Pilocarpine nitrate is a direct-acting parasympathomimetic eye drop that constricts the pupil. The selected UK product is used by eye-care professionals to reverse weaker pupil-dilating drops and in emergency glaucoma treatment.
Pimecrolimus is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory cream for mild or moderate atopic eczema. It is usually considered when topical corticosteroids are unsuitable, ineffective or poorly tolerated, including for sensitive areas such as the face and neck.
Pimozide is a first-generation antipsychotic that reduces dopamine signalling in the brain. The selected product is licensed for chronic schizophrenia and certain other psychoses, including persistent paranoid or single-theme delusional states.
Pioglitazone hydrochloride is an oral thiazolidinedione that makes the body more responsive to insulin. It is licensed for selected adults with type 2 diabetes when diet, physical activity and other glucose-lowering treatment have not provided sufficient control or metformin is unsuitable.
Piperacillin + tazobactam combines an extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic with a beta-lactamase inhibitor. It is given into a vein, usually in hospital or through a supervised outpatient intravenous antibiotic service, for serious bacterial infections.
Combines a broad-spectrum penicillin antibacterial with a beta-lactamase inhibitor. It is given into a vein for serious bacterial infections in a clinically supervised setting.
Pirfenidone is an antifibrotic treatment for adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It can slow worsening of lung function but does not cure IPF or reverse existing scarring.
Piroxicam is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain and inflammation. Oral piroxicam is reserved for symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis when another NSAID is not a better option.
Pitolisant hydrochloride is a wake-promoting treatment that increases histamine signalling in the brain. It is used for narcolepsy with or without cataplexy and, in selected adults, persistent excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnoea.
Pixantrone dimaleate is a cytotoxic anticancer treatment used alone in adults whose aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma has returned repeatedly or has not responded to previous chemotherapy.
Pizotifen malate is a prescription-only preventive treatment for recurrent migraine and cluster headache. It is taken regularly to reduce future headaches and does not relieve an attack already under way.
Plerixafor is a stem-cell mobilisation treatment used with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). It releases blood-forming stem cells from bone marrow into the bloodstream so they can be collected for a person's own stem-cell transplant.
Pneumococcal vaccines are inactivated vaccines that help the immune system recognise selected types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. They reduce the risk of serious infections including pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis, particularly in older people and those with certain health conditions.
Podophyllotoxin is a prescription-only topical treatment that destroys genital wart tissue by stopping affected cells from dividing. The selected products are licensed for external genital warts on the penis or external female genital area.
Polatuzumab vedotin is an antibody–drug conjugate that targets CD79b on B cells and delivers a cell-killing agent inside them. It is used with other cancer treatments for adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), either when newly diagnosed or in certain relapsed or refractory cases.
Polygeline is a gelatin-derived colloid solution given by intravenous infusion in hospital to expand circulating plasma volume, including for initial treatment of hypovolaemic shock.
Pomalidomide is an immunomodulatory anticancer treatment for adults with previously treated multiple myeloma. It is used with dexamethasone and, in some circumstances, bortezomib.
Ponatinib is a targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor used by specialist teams to treat certain adults with chronic myeloid leukaemia or Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. It is generally reserved for disease with specified resistance, intolerance or the T315I mutation.