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Medications reference

100 of the most commonly prescribed medicines in UK primary care: uses, common side effects, key contraindications or cautions, and Cheshire & Merseyside formulary status

Quick reference only. These are brief summaries, not complete lists. The list is based on medicines with the highest national dispensing volumes in primary care (NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis), not an exact ranking. Formulary status and notes are from the Cheshire & Merseyside APG formulary, checked 24 October 2026 – traffic-light colours: Green (primary care), Amber (specialist recommendation or initiation), Purple (shared care), Red (specialist only), Grey (not yet reviewed). Always check the current BNF or the product's SmPC before prescribing, including doses, interactions and renal or hepatic adjustments.