The Preferred Drugs Initiative identifies a single ‘preferred drug’ within a therapeutic drug class, and offers prescribers useful guidance on selecting, prescribing and monitoring this drug for a particular condition. Prescribers are encouraged to make the preferred drug their drug of first choice when prescribing a drug from that therapeutic class.
The Medicines Management Programme (MMP) has identified a number of preferred drugs:
Preferred Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor - Ramipril
Preferred Angiotensin-II Receptor Blocker (ARB) - Candesartan
Preferred Beta-Blocker - Bisoprolol
Preferred Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB) - Amlodipine
Preferred Oral Anticoagulants - Warfarin and Apixaban
Preferred Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) - Pantoprazole
Preferred Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) - Venlafaxine
Preferred Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) - Sertraline
Preferred Statin - Atorvastatin