Editing British National Formulary

{{Short description|Pharmaceutical reference book for the UK}}
{{use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox book
|name         = British National Formulary (BNF)
|image        = BNF_73_cover_image.jpg
|caption      = The cover of BNF 73 (March 2017)
|author       = Joint Formulary Committee
|country      = United Kingdom
|language     = [[British English]]
|series       = 
|subject      = [[Medicine]], [[Pharmacy]]
|genre        = Medicines Information
|publisher    = [[BMJ Group|BMJ]] and<br />[[Pharmaceutical Press]]
|release_date = September 2022 (84th edition)
|media_type   = Paperback print, digital online, smartphone app
|pages        = 1,844
|isbn         = 978-0-85711-432-7
|oclc         = 1338666044
|dewey        = 
|preceded_by  = 
|followed_by  = 
|website      = {{URL|https://www.bnf.org}}
}}
The '''''British National Formulary''''' ('''BNF''') is a United Kingdom (UK) [[pharmacy|pharmaceutical]] reference book that contains a wide spectrum of information and advice on [[Medical prescription|prescribing]] and [[pharmacology]], along with specific facts and details about many [[medicine]]s available on the UK [[National Health Service]] (NHS).  Information within the BNF includes [[Indication (medicine)|indication(s)]], [[contraindication]]s, [[adverse effect|side effects]], [[Dose (biochemistry)|doses]], [[Drug prohibition law|legal classification]], names and prices of available proprietary and [[Generic drug|generic]] formulations, and any other notable points.<ref name="BNF book">{{cite web|url=https://www.BNF.org/products/books/|title=BNF Publications - Books|publisher=[[BMJ (company)|BMJ Group]] and [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society]]|website=www.bnf.org|access-date=16 August 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817060858/https://www.bnf.org/products/books/|archive-date=17 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  Though it is a national [[Formulary (pharmacy)|formulary]], it nevertheless also includes entries for some medicines which are not available under the NHS, and must be prescribed and/or purchased privately.  A symbol clearly denotes such drugs in their entry.

It is used by [[pharmacist]]s and [[Physician|doctors]] (both [[general practitioner]]s (GPs) and generalist hospital practitioners, and by other prescribing [[Health care provider|healthcare professionals]] (such as [[nurse]]s, [[pharmacy technician]]s, [[paramedic]]s, and [[dentist]]s)); as a reference for correct dosage, indication, interactions and side effects of drugs.  It is also used as a reassurance by those administering drugs, for example a nurse on a hospital ward, and even for patients and others seeking an authoritative source of advice on any aspect of [[pharmacotherapy]].

==Development==
Many individuals and organisations contribute towards the preparation of the BNF.  It is authored by [[Pharmaceutical Press]], the [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society]]'s (RPS) knowledge business; and is jointly published by the [[BMJ (company)|BMJ]] (owned by the [[British Medical Association|BMA]]), and Pharmaceutical Press (owned by the [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society|RPS]]). It is published under the authority of a Joint Formulary Committee (JFC),<ref name="BNF about">{{cite web|url=https://www.bnf.org/about/|title=BNF Publications - About - Our organisation|publisher=[[BMJ (company)|BMJ Group]] and [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society]]|website=www.bnf.org|access-date=16 August 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817060538/https://www.bnf.org/about/|archive-date=17 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> which comprises pharmacy, medical, nursing, and lay representatives; there are also representatives from the [[Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency]] (MHRA), the UK Health Departments, and a national guideline producer. 

Information on drugs is drawn from the manufacturers' product literature, medical and pharmaceutical literature, regulatory authorities and professional bodies.  Advice is constructed from clinical literature, and reflects, as far as possible, an evaluation of the evidence from diverse sources.  The BNF also takes account of authoritative national guidelines and emerging safety concerns.  In addition, the Joint Formulary Committee takes advice on all therapeutic areas from advisers from expert groups; this ensures that the BNF's recommendations are relevant to practice.  In September 2016, the [[National Institute for Health and Care Excellence]] (NICE) in the UK gave NICE accreditation to the processes to produce BNF publications; a further review in 2021 resulted in the successful renewal of accreditation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Accreditation decisions |url=https://www.nice.org.uk/about/what-we-do/accreditation/accreditation-decisions |website=NICE |access-date=9 January 2023 |date=September 2021}}</ref>

==History==
It was first published in 1949,<ref name="BNF about"/> as the '''''National Formulary''''', with updated versions appearing every three years until 1976.  The fifth version in 1957 saw its name change to ''The British National Formulary''.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Anon|title=The British National Formulary|journal=[[British Medical Journal]]|volume=2|issue=5047|pages=758–759|year=1957|pmid=13460381|pmc=1962234}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wade|first1=O. L.|title=British National Formulary: Its birth, death, and rebirth|journal=BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)|volume=306|issue=6884|pages=1051–1054|year=1993|pmid=8490505|pmc=1676980|doi=10.1136/bmj.306.6884.1051}}</ref>  A new-look version, under the auspices of [[Owen Wade (physician)|Owen Wade]], was released in 1981.<ref name="BNF about"/><ref>{{Cite journal|author=Anon|title=British National Formulary 1976-8|journal=[[British Medical Journal]]|volume=2|issue=6136|pages=580–581|year=1978|pmid=20792725|pmc=1606955|doi=10.1136/bmj.2.6136.580-b}}</ref>  A study in Northern Ireland, looking at prescribing in 1965, reported that the BNF was likely able to serve the requirements of prescribers in general practice, while also achieving a cost saving.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wade|first1=O. L.|last2=McDevitt|first2=G. D.|title=Prescribing and the British National Formulary|journal=[[British Medical Journal]]|volume=2|issue=5514|pages=635–637|year=1966|pmid=20791099|pmc=1943465|doi=10.1136/bmj.2.5514.635}}</ref>  By 2003, issue 46 of the BNF contained 3000 interactions or groups of interactions, with about 900 of these marked by a bullet.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Aronson|first1=J. K.|title=Drug interactions-information, education, and the British National Formulary|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2125.2004.02125.x|journal=[[British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology]]|volume=57|issue=4|pages=371–372|year=2004|pmid=15025733|pmc=1884473}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=VNRAS.com |first=BNF 73 |title=BNF 73 |url=https://vnras.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BNF-73-2017.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021232748/https://vnras.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BNF-73-2017.pdf |archive-date=2021-10-21 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=VNRAS.com |title=BNF for Children BNFC 2019-2020 |url=https://vnras.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BNF-for-Children-BNFC-2019-2020-1.pdf |access-date=1 May 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011172320/https://vnras.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BNF-for-Children-BNFC-2019-2020-1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BNF 78 |url=https://vnras.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BNF-78-1.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BNF for Children BNFC 2019-2020 |url=https://vnras.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BNF-for-Children-BNFC-2019-2020-1.pdf |access-date=1 May 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011172320/https://vnras.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BNF-for-Children-BNFC-2019-2020-1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Editions==
A new edition of the BNF book is published twice-yearly, in March and September.<ref name="BNF book"/>  The current edition is 87, which was published in March 2024.  It is a tradition that the colour of each new edition is radically different from the previous.<ref name="BNF about"/>

==Availability==
BNF content is available digitally via a website and mobile app, and as a book.  The book is available for purchase.  In 2023, NICE announced their decision to stop the supply of print BNF to NHS organisations in England.  The same decision was made by Scotland and Wales.<ref name="BNF book"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.evidence.nhs.uk/nhs-evidence-content/bnf |title=BNF - NHS Evidence - Search Engine for Evidence in Health and Social Care |access-date=2012-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001024033/http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/nhs-evidence-content/bnf |archive-date=1 October 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>  NHS workers and healthcare professionals in the [[HINARI]] group of developing nations are entitled to free access via MedicinesComplete following registration (requires provision of a name, an address, an email address, and a phone number).  Other visitors can subscribe to the BNF on MedicinesComplete.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/ |title=Digital Medicines Information Suite |access-date=2008-12-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219062431/http://www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/ |archive-date=19 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }} MedicinesComplete</ref>  Healthcare organisations can also subscribe to a customisable BNF via their corporate online intranet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bnfformularycomplete.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925205851/http://www.bnfformularycomplete.com/ |archive-date=2011-09-25|title=BNF FormularyComplete}} BNF on FormularyComplete</ref>  In 2017, BNF Publications released applications for offline access to the BNF on [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices.  Monthly content updates are available, over an internet connection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nice.org.uk/About/What-we-do/NICE-apps-for-smartphones-and-tablets|title=NICE apps for smartphones and tablets|publisher=[[National Institute for Health and Care Excellence]]|website=www.nice.org.uk|date=April 2014|access-date=19 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813081104/http://www.nice.org.uk/About/What-we-do/NICE-apps-for-smartphones-and-tablets|archive-date=13 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> NICE provides a website providing the content of the BNF for non-commercial to the public, including non-NHS users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bnf.nice.org.uk/|title=BNF (British National Formulary|work=nice.org.uk|url-access=limited|access-date=2023-08-04}}</ref>

The BNF also includes the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary (NPF) and other NPF content for use by [[District nurse|District Nurse]]s and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (including [[Health visitor|Health Visitor]]s), who have received training to become nurse prescribers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BNF is only available in the UK |url=https://www.nice.org.uk/bnf-uk-only |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=NICE}}</ref>

==Sister publications==
The ''[[British National Formulary for Children]]'' (BNFC)<ref name="BNF book"/><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Elias-Jones|first1=A.|last2=Rylance|first2=G.|doi=10.1136/adc.2005.080366|title=The launch of the British National Formulary for Children|journal=[[Archives of Disease in Childhood]]|volume=90|issue=10|pages=997–998|year=2005|pmid=16177154|pmc=1720111}}</ref><ref name="bnfc">{{cite web |url=http://bnfc.org/bnfc/ |title=BNFC.org |access-date=2006-09-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220231742/http://bnfc.org/bnfc/ |archive-date=20 December 2007 |df=dmy }} British National Formulary for Children</ref> book, first published September 2005,<ref name="BNF about"/> is published yearly,<ref name="BNF about"/> and details the doses and uses of medicines in children from [[neonate]]s to [[adolescent]]s.<ref name="BNF book"/>

==BNF sections==
The ''British National Formulary'' is divided into various sections; with the main sections on drugs and preparations being organised by body system.

;Table of Contents
*Preface
*Acknowledgements
*How BNF publications are constructed
*How to use the BNF
*Changes
*Guidance on prescribing
*Prescription writing
*Emergency supply of medicines
*Controlled drugs and drug dependence
*Adverse reactions to drugs
*Guidance on intravenous infusions
*Medicines optimisation 
*Antimicrobial stewardship
*Prescribing for children
*Prescribing in hepatic impairment
*Prescribing in renal impairment
*Prescribing in pregnancy
*Prescribing in breast-feeding
*Prescribing in palliative care
*Prescribing for the elderly
*Drugs and sport
*Prescribing in dental practice

;Notes on drugs and preparations
# Gastro-intestinal system
# Cardiovascular system
# Respiratory system
# Nervous system
# Infection
# Endocrine system
# Genito-urinary system
# Malignant disease
# Blood and nutrition
# Musculoskeletal system
# Eye
# Ear, nose, and oropharynx
# Skin
# Vaccines
# Anaesthesia
# Emergency treatment of poisoning

;Appendices and indices
*Appendix 1 Interactions
*Appendix 2 Borderline substances
*Appendix 3 Cautionary and advisory labels for dispensed medicines
*Appendix 4 Wound management products and elasticated garments
*Dental Practitioners' Formulary
*Nurse Prescribers' Formulary
*Non-medical prescribing
*Index of proprietary manufacturers
*Special-order manufacturers

==See also==
*[[Pharmacopeia]]
*[[Specification (technical standard)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Pharmacy in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Professional associations based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Medical manuals]]
[[Category:British books]]
[[Category:Pharmacology literature]]