Oral Nutritional Supplements

Warning

General Notes

Oral nutritional supplements should not be regarded as a first–line treatment of under nutrition and should always follow dietary intervention. In Lanarkshire these supplements are no longer prescribed on GP10 in the community and an electronic system is now operated by the dietetic service. All patients should be referred for assessment by a dietitian. The contact telephone number is 01698 754800. Further information can also be found on the Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service FirstPort page (NHS staff access only).

An Oral Nutrition Support Formulary for these supplements has been issued to the practices. Requests for GP10 prescriptions for products which are not included in the formulary e.g. paediatric nutritional support products, specialised renal and hepatic products and enteral feeding products will be sent to general practitioners from individual dietitians.

Significant drug interactions can occur with milk/yoghurt based products. Interactions can occur with tetracycline, oxytetracycline, quinolone antibiotics, ciclosporin, alcohol, estramustine and the bisphosphonates. A 2 to 3 hour gap is usually recommended between taking an oral nutritional product and a potentially interacting drug. See product literature for further details.

Diarrhoea, bloating, nausea and early satiety can be side-effects of oral nutritional supplements and diarrhoea can be an indication that the product should be discontinued.

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.