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Abacavir is an antiretroviral used with other antiretrovirals to help control HIV infection. It is not a complete treatment on its own.
Abacavir + lamivudine combines two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It is used with other antiretrovirals to control HIV infection and reduce the amount of virus in the body.
Abacavir sulfate is an antiretroviral that helps control HIV by blocking viral replication. It is licensed for adults and children as part of combination treatment, not on its own.
A fixed combination of dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine used to control HIV-1 by reducing viral replication. It does not cure HIV.
A fixed-dose combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors used with other antiretrovirals to suppress HIV. It does not cure HIV.
Abatacept is a biological immunomodulator that reduces T-cell activation. It is used under specialist supervision for selected forms of inflammatory arthritis when earlier disease-modifying treatment has not worked well enough or is unsuitable.
Abemaciclib is a targeted cancer treatment that blocks proteins involved in cell division. In the UK, it is usually combined with endocrine therapy for certain hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancers.
Abiraterone acetate is a hormone-targeted treatment for advanced prostate cancer. It reduces androgen production and is used under specialist supervision with a corticosteroid and, where relevant, ongoing androgen-deprivation therapy.
This oral cancer treatment combines a PARP inhibitor with an androgen-production inhibitor. It is used with prednisone or prednisolone for certain adults with metastatic prostate cancer whose tumours have BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.
Abrocitinib is an oral selective Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor used for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over when systemic therapy is appropriate.
Acalabrutinib maleate is an oral targeted anticancer treatment called a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It is used in adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and certain forms of mantle cell lymphoma, either alone or with other anticancer treatments.
Acamprosate calcium supports abstinence after alcohol withdrawal. It is used with counselling and does not treat acute withdrawal or protect against the harms of continued drinking.
Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor for adults with type 2 diabetes. It slows carbohydrate digestion in the intestine, reducing blood glucose rises after meals.
Acebutolol hydrochloride mainly acts on the heart. It is licensed for high blood pressure, angina and fast abnormal heart rhythms.
Aceclofenac is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It relieves pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis but does not cure them.
Acemetacin is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain and inflammation. The selected UK product is licensed for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, and pain and inflammation after surgery.
Acenocoumarol is an oral anticoagulant that reduces the blood’s ability to clot. It treats and prevents diseases caused by harmful blood clots and requires individualised INR monitoring.
Acetic acid is a locally acting antibacterial ear preparation. The selected ear spray is licensed for superficial infections of the outer ear canal.
Acetylcysteine thins thick mucus so it is easier to clear. Intravenous acetylcysteine is used in hospital as an antidote for paracetamol overdose. Eye drops loosen abnormal mucus and lubricate dry eyes.
A sterile intravenous amino-acid solution used during parenteral nutrition when nutrition by mouth or through the gut is impossible, insufficient or unsuitable. It is only one component of complete parenteral nutrition.
A paediatric amino-acid solution given into a vein as part of parenteral nutrition. It supports newborns, infants and children who cannot obtain enough nutrition by mouth or enteral feeding and is used with energy and other nutrients.
Acetylsalicylic acid, commonly called aspirin, is an NSAID that relieves pain, inflammation and fever. It also reduces platelet activity, so selected gastro-resistant products are used to help prevent further cardiovascular or cerebrovascular clotting events.
This combination contains aspirin, paracetamol and caffeine. In the selected UK product, it is used for short-term relief of painful and feverish conditions.
Aciclovir is an antiviral that slows herpes-virus multiplication. It is used for cold sores, genital herpes, chickenpox and shingles; intravenous treatment is reserved for certain severe infections and hospital care.
Aciclovir sodium is an antiviral form of aciclovir prepared for intravenous infusion. It is used in hospital for serious herpes simplex and varicella-zoster infections, including herpes encephalitis and neonatal herpes, and to prevent herpes simplex infections in some immunocompromised patients.
Acipimox is a nicotinic-acid-related lipid-lowering treatment that reduces triglycerides and cholesterol. It may be used when lifestyle measures and treatments such as statins or fibrates have not worked adequately or are unsuitable.
Acitretin is an oral systemic retinoid related to vitamin A that changes how skin cells grow and mature. Specialists use it for severe psoriasis and other serious keratinisation disorders that have not responded adequately to standard treatment.
Aclidinium bromide is an inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist bronchodilator. It is used as maintenance treatment to relieve symptoms in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); it is not a reliever for sudden breathing difficulty.
Safinamide is a selective, reversible monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor added to stable levodopa treatment for adults with mid- to late-stage Parkinson’s disease and motor fluctuations.
Salbutamol sulfate is a short-acting bronchodilator that quickly relaxes tightened airway muscles. Inhaled forms relieve wheeze, breathlessness and reversible airway narrowing; nebulised and injectable forms are used in selected severe or specialist situations.
Salmonella typhi strain ty 21a is a live, weakened bacterial vaccine taken by mouth. It reduces the risk of typhoid fever in adults and children aged 5 years and older but does not treat typhoid or provide complete protection.
A protein-subunit COVID-19 vaccine containing laboratory-made spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant and the Matrix-M adjuvant. It trains the immune system to recognise the spike protein and help prevent COVID-19. It contains no live coronavirus and cannot cause COVID-19.
Saxagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor used with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It may be used alone when metformin is unsuitable or with other diabetes treatments.
Sebetralstat is an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor used to treat hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks. It limits bradykinin-driven swelling but does not correct the inherited cause of HAE.
Seladelpar lysine dihydrate provides seladelpar, a selective PPAR-delta agonist for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and associated itching in adults. It is licensed with ursodeoxycholic acid when response is inadequate, or alone when ursodeoxycholic acid cannot be tolerated.
Sertraline hydrochloride is a prescription selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant used for depression and several anxiety-related conditions.
Sildenafil citrate is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. Selected UK products are licensed for erectile dysfunction in adult men and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in specified adults and children.
Sitagliptin hydrochloride monohydrate is a form of sitagliptin, a prescription DPP-4 inhibitor for adults with type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose alongside diet and physical activity, either alone when metformin is unsuitable or with other diabetes medicines.
Sodium hydrogen carbonate, also called sodium bicarbonate, is an alkalinising salt. It neutralises acid or replaces bicarbonate and is used for indigestion and selected metabolic acidosis, poisoning and emergency-care situations.
Solifenacin succinate is an antimuscarinic medicine that relaxes an overactive bladder. It can reduce urinary urgency, frequent urination and urge leakage. The oral suspension also has a licensed role in children with neurogenic detrusor overactivity.
Sotatercept is a biological treatment used alongside other therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults with functional limitations.
Sugammadex is used during general anaesthesia to reverse the muscle-relaxing effects of rocuronium or vecuronium, allowing muscle function and breathing to recover.
Sulthiame is a carbonic anhydrase-inhibiting antiseizure medicine. The selected UK product is licensed for Rolandic epilepsy in children and adolescents under an experienced paediatric neurologist.
Tamsulosin hydrochloride is an alpha-blocker that relaxes muscle in the prostate and urethra. It mainly eases urinary symptoms caused by benign prostate enlargement, including weak flow, hesitancy, urgency and frequent urination.
Tarlatamab is an antibody-based cancer treatment that helps T cells recognise and destroy small cell lung cancer cells. In the UK, it is used for adults whose cancer has progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy.
Teplizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that changes the activity of T lymphocytes involved in autoimmune damage to insulin-producing cells. It is licensed to delay progression from Stage 2 to Stage 3 type 1 diabetes in eligible adults and children aged 8 years and older; it does not cure type 1 diabetes.
Teprotumumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor. It is licensed for adults with moderate to severe thyroid eye disease and is given by intravenous infusion under specialist supervision.
Theophylline hydrate is a xanthine bronchodilator that relaxes the airways. It is usually an add-on treatment to help prevent bronchospasm in asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease when other treatments are insufficient.
Thiamine hydrochloride is a medicinal form of thiamine (vitamin B1), an essential water-soluble vitamin. It replaces thiamine when levels are low; an injection may be used when rapid replacement is needed or oral treatment is unsuitable.
Tisotumab vedotin is an antibody–drug conjugate that delivers the cell-killing substance MMAE to cancer cells expressing tissue factor. It is used alone for adults with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer that has progressed during or after previous systemic treatment.
Tofersen is an antisense oligonucleotide licensed for adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by a confirmed SOD1 gene mutation. It reduces abnormal SOD1 protein production but is not a cure, and response varies.
Toripalimab helps immune cells recognise and attack cancer. In the UK, it is used with chemotherapy for certain advanced nasopharyngeal and oesophageal cancers.
Tramadol hydrochloride is a prescription opioid painkiller for moderate to severe pain. It changes how pain signals are processed in the brain and spinal cord but can cause sedation, dependence and withdrawal.
Venlafaxine hydrochloride, usually called venlafaxine, is a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant. It is used for depression and, in selected prolonged-release products, several anxiety disorders.
A live, weakened oral vaccine that stimulates immunity against Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1. It is used for selected travellers after an individual risk assessment and does not replace careful food, water and hand hygiene.
Vorasidenib blocks abnormal IDH1 and IDH2 proteins. It is used after surgery for certain grade 2 astrocytomas or oligodendrogliomas when immediate chemotherapy or radiotherapy is not needed.
Zanidatamab is a targeted antibody treatment that attaches to two parts of HER2. It is used alone for certain adults with previously treated, HER2-positive advanced biliary tract cancer that cannot be removed surgically.
Zuranolone is an oral neuroactive-steroid antidepressant licensed for moderate or severe postnatal depression in adults following childbirth. It enhances inhibitory GABA-A receptor signalling and is initiated under specialist supervision.