<p> Warrington formulary for oral contraceptives</p><p>Background  The Pan Mersey formulary contains a range of options for contraception, including expensive market leading brands for each type of contraceptive preparations. Oral contraceptives should be prescribed using the brand name to promote patient familiarity and compliance.</p><p> Warrington CCG spends about £200,000 a year on oral contraceptives. There are currently two companies (Morningside and Consilient Health) that produce a range of branded generic oral contraceptives which are more cost- effective compared with market leading brands. Warrington CCG could make savings on the prescribing budget if patients were initiated on a branded generic oral contraceptive instead of expensive market leaders.</p><p> A comparison review of Morningside and Consilient products was undertaken by the Medicines Management Team (MMT) and this took into consideration product availability, price guarantee and bioequivalence to market leaders. The recommendation from this review was to use the Consilient product range as first line choices and this has been accepted by Warrington CCG Quality Committee.</p><p> The local Integrated Sexual health Service and the pharmacy department at Warrington and Halton Hospitals Foundation Trust (who supply sexual health clinics) were consulted and inputted into the final recommendations.</p><p>Recommendations for Warrington</p><p>The table below shows the preferred first line options by Consilient and the cost comparison to equivalent market leading brands per 3 cycle-pack.</p><p>Note: the Integrated Sexual Health Service has requested that the market leading brand Cilest should remain as first choice where monophasic - Ethinylestradiol 35mcg plus Norgestimate 250mcg is required. Consilient Health does not currently have an equivalent product to Cilest.</p><p>GENERIC NAME Commonly used/ Cost Recommended Cost for market leading for 3 Consilient 3 cycle brands cycle Health brand pack name (prescribe by brand name) Desogestrel 75 mcg Cerazette £8.68 Cerelle £3.50 Ethinylestradiol 30mcg/ Microgynon 30 £2.82 Rigevidon £1.89 levonorgestrel 150mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 30mcg/ Ovranette £2.20 levonorgestrel 150mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 30mcg/ Marvelon £6.45 Gedarel 30/150 £4.19 desogestrel 150mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 20mcg/ Mercilon £7.67 Geradel 20/150 £5.08 desogestrel 150mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 30mcg/ Femodene £6.73 Millinette 30/75 £4.12 gestodene 75mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 30mcg/ Katya £5.03 gestodene 75mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 20mcg/ Femodette £8.85 Millinette 20/75 £5.41 gestodene 75mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 20mcg/ Sunya £6.62 gestodene 75mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 30mcg Logynon £3.82 TriRegol £2.44 &Levonorgestrel 50mcg; Ethinylestradiol 40mcg &Levonorgestrel75mcg; Ethinylestradiol 30mcg &Levonorgestrel125mcg ;</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 35mcg/ Cilest £7.16 norgestimate 250mcg</p><p>Ethinylestradiol 30mcg/ Yasmin £14.70 Lucette £9.35 drospirenone 3mg</p><p>Prices taken from MIMS May 2014</p><p>It is recommended that the Pan Mersey formulary should be followed for other type of preparations that are not mentioned above.</p><p>NOTE: Consilient Health pills have a free downloadable reminder App called “MyOC” to provide women with a daily pill reminder and supporting information about their contraceptive which may aid compliance. The company also offers a comprehensive support package for healthcare professionals. Further information as well as patient supporting information can be obtained from the website: www.knowyourcontraceptives.co.uk</p><p>JANETH WARD PRESCRIBING ADVISER, WARRINGTON MEDICINES MANAGEMENT TEAM, 16 JUNE 2014</p>