Pharmacy staff should dispense branded pregabalin (Lyrica) when presented with a prescription for pregabalin for the treatment of neuropathic pain, according to new guidance from NHS England. The guidance states that generic pregabalin may only be prescribed or dispensed for neuropathic pain if there are clinical contraindications or other special clinical needs, for example, if the patient is allergic to an excipient. Generic pregabalin is only licensed for use in generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and epilepsy and does not contain patient information on its use in treating neuropathic pain.

Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, said that he hoped the guidance would “help minimise the legal risk for pharmacy teams and avoid delays for patients getting their medicine.” He added: “The issue is a complicated mix of patent and trademark legislation and medicines licensing issues, and Pharmacy Voice wanted to help ensure both that prescribers are properly advised by the authorities and that the message is consistent across CCGs.”