Non medical prescribing in Scotland: implementation guide
Implementation guidance for nurse independent prescribers and for community practitioner nurse prescribers in Scotland.
Appendix 9: Controlled drugs
Nurse independent prescribers can prescribe any licensed medicine for any medical condition, including some controlled drugs. They are able to prescribe the following list of Controlled Drugs, solely for the medical conditions indicated:
- diamorphine, morphine, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, or oxycodone for use in palliative care;
- buprenorphine or fentanyl for transdermal use in palliative care;
- diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam for the treatment of tonic-clonic seizures;
- diamorphine or morphine for pain relief in respect of suspected myocardial infarction, or for relief of acute or severe pain after trauma including in either case post-operative pain relief;
- chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride or diazepam for treatment of initial or acute withdrawal symptoms, caused by the withdrawal of alcohol from persons habituated to it;
- codeine phosphate, dihydrocodeine tartrate or co-phenotrope (no restrictions on medical conditions).
Details of the appropriate route of administration for these Controlled Drugs can be found in the table below:
Substance |
Route of administration |
|---|---|
Buprenorphine |
Transdermal administration in palliative care |
Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride |
Oral |
Codeine phosphate |
Oral |
Co-phenotrope |
Oral |
Diamorphine hydrochloride |
Oral or parenteral |
Diazepam |
Oral, parenteral or rectal |
Dihydrocodeine Tartrate |
Oral |
Fentanyl |
Transdermal administration in palliative care |
Lorazepam |
Oral or parenteral |
Midazolam |
Parenteral or buccal |
Morphine hydrochloride |
Rectal |
Morphine sulphate |
Oral, parenteral or rectal |
Oxycodone hydrochloride |
Oral or parenteral administration in palliative care |
N.B. Check with the Pharmacy Division for any changes to this guidance
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback