Warning

Statins

Preferred list (P)

ATORVASTATIN

 

Total list (T)

SIMVASTATIN

ROSUVASTATIN

Prescribing Notes:

  • Statins competitively inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, especially in the liver.

Ezetimibe and Bempedoic Acid

Total list (T)

EZETIMIBE

  • Inhibits the intestinal absorption of cholesterol.
  • For secondary prevention, in addition to maximum tolerated statin therapy, for those in whom LDL cholesterol is considered not adequately controlled.

Specialist initiation (S1)

BEMPEDOIC ACID (Nilemdo®)

  • SMC Advice July 2021: For restricted use in adults, with primary hypercholesterolaemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidaemia, as an adjunct to diet.
  • Restriction:for use in combination with ezetimibe in patients who are:
    • statin intolerant or for whom a statin is contra-indicated
      and
    • where ezetimibe alone does not appropriately control LDL-C
      and
    • where proprotein convertase subtilisin/ kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are not appropriate.

BEMPEDOIC ACID WITH EZETIMIBE (Nustendi®)

  • SMC Advice October 2021: For restricted use in adults, with primary hypercholesterolaemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidaemia, as an adjunct to diet.
  • Restriction:for use in patients who are:
    • statin intolerant or for whom a statin is contra-indicated
      and
    • where ezetimibe alone does not appropriately control LDL-C
      and
    • where proprotein convertase subtilisin/ kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are not appropriate.

Fibrates

Specialist initiation (S1)

BEZAFIBRATE

  • Fibrates act by decreasing serum triglycerides; they have variable effect on LDL-cholesterol.
  • Restriction: for severe hypertriglyceridaemia only.

Other Lipid Modifying Agents

Specialist use only (S2)

ALIROCUMAB

  • Binds to a pro-protein involved in the regulation of LDL receptors on liver cells; receptor numbers are increased, which results in increased uptake of LDL-cholesterol from the blood.
  • ALIROCUMAB (Praluent®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland. For further details please see SMC advice August 2016.

EVOLOCUMAB

  • Binds to a pro-protein involved in the regulation of LDL receptors on liver cells; receptor numbers are increased, which results in increased uptake of LDL-cholesterol from the blood.
  • EVOLOCUMAB (Repatha®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for primary hypercholesterolaemia (heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidaemia. For further details please see SMC advice February 2017.
  • EVOLOCUMAB is not recommended for the following indication:
    • adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke or peripheral arterial disease) to reduce cardiovascular risk by lowering LDL-C levels, as an adjunct to correction of other risk factors. SMC advice November 2018.

INCLISIRAN

  • INCLISIRAN (Leqvio®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for adults with primary hypercholesterolaemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidaemia, as an adjunct to diet:
    • in combination with a statin or statin with other lipid lowering therapies in patients who are unable to reach LDL-C goals with the maximum tolerated dose of a statin, or
    • alone or in combination with other lipid lowering therapies in patients who are statin intolerant, or for whom a statin is contraindicated.
  • SMC restriction: for specialist use only in patients at high cardiovascular risk as follows:
    -patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and LDL-C ≥5.0mmol/L, for primary prevention of cardiovascular events or,
    -patients with HeFH and LDL-C ≥3.5mmol/L, for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events or,
    -patients with high risk due to previous cardiovascular events and LDL-C ≥4.0mmol/L or,
    -patients with recurrent/polyvascular disease and LDL-C ≥3.5mmol/L.

Inclisiran (Leqvio®) is for Health Care Professional administration and hospital supply only.

NHSL Joint Adult Formulary Key

To indicate the category of a formulary medicine, updated sections adopt the following key:

Preferred list (P): First-line formulary choices.

Total list (T): Alternative choices when preferred list options not effective/not tolerated, or not indicated.

Specialist initiation (S1): Specialist initiation, or on the advice of a Consultant or Specialist Practitioner in this therapeutic area. Continuation in primary care is acceptable.

Specialist use only (S2): Supply via hospital, Homecare Service or a hospital based prescription (HBP) for dispensing by community pharmacy. Not prescribed in primary care setting.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 31/01/2022

Next review date: 31/01/2025

Author(s): NHSL.

Version: Please refer to the introduction section for an explanation of the review dates above.

Approved By: ADTC

Reviewer name(s): ADTC.