Vitamins and minerals

Routine supplementation of vitamins and minerals.

Prescribing may be appropriate in some cases under NHSE exception criteria.

Common examples may include:

  • Medically diagnosed deficiency, including patients who may have a lifelong or chronic condition/malabsorption resulting from surgery.
  • Calcium and vitamin D for osteoporosis
  • Malnutrition
  • Including alcoholism (see NICE guidance)

Review need regularly (maintenance and preventative treatment is not an exception).

Drug Cost Age Other information
Drug
Colecalciferol (Vitamin D) 400 – 2000 IU
Cost
Tablets
£1.25 (60 tablets)
Age
12 years and over
Info

This recommendation does not extend to the high strength preparations.
Drug
Cyanocobalamin 50mcg (Vitamin B12)
Cost
Tablets
£1.95 (50 tablets)
Age
-
Info

Strengths up to 1000micrograms available to buy.
Drug
Multivitamin
Cost
Drops
£7.00 (25mL)
Age
Birth to 12 years only
Info

Abidec drops
Drug
Multivitamin
Cost
Drops
£4.55 (30mL)
Age
1 month and over
Info

Dalivit drops
Drug
Multivitamin
Cost
Tablets
£3.00 (90 tablets)
Age
12 years and over
Info

Childrens products are available
Drug
Vitamin B
Cost
Tablets
£1.99 (90 tablets)
Age
No age restrictions
Info

Children at the discretion of the physician. All vitamin B products can be bought at pharmacy/ retail outlet
Drug
Vitamin C 500mg
Cost
Tablets
£1.49 (30 tablets)
Age
-
Info

Paitents may be suitable for Healthy Start vitamins
Drug
Vitamin D
Cost
Drops
£5.00 (30mL)
Age
-
Info

Paitents may be suitable for Healthy Start vitamins

Women’s Healthy Start

(Folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin D)

Patients qualify if they are least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old and they or their family get:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance*Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
  • Pension Credit; or
  • Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family. (To find this refer to your Universal Credit award notice in the section “your take home pay for this month”.)

Patients who are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any of the above benefits.

 

Children’s Healthy Start

(Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D)

Patients qualify if they have a child under four years old and they or their family get:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance*
  • Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
  • Pension Credit; or
  • Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family. (To find this refer to your Universal Credit award notice in the section “your take home pay for this month”.)

Patients who are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any of the above benefits.

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