The Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System Area Prescribing Committee (APC) approves the following in relation to prescribing of Omega 3 for raised triglycerides in primary care in line with NHSE guidance:

Omega 3 will be given a RED traffic light status.

Patients prescribed Omega 3 in primary care will be reviewed as follows:

• Do not initiate omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters for any new patient in primary care (with the exception of icosapent ethyl prescribed in line with NICE TA805).
• Patients for whom omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters are prescribed for specialist indications, e.g. schizophrenia (unlicensed), or where they have been recommended by a specialist lipid clinic e.g. patient with elevated triglycerides at risk of pancreatitis, should be referred back to the specialist for review. If there is any ongoing prescribing for specialist indications, this should take place in secondary care. GPs may continue to prescribe in the meantime for these patients whilst waiting to be seen by the specialist service.
• Patients with a high risk of cardiovascular events, prescribed omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters with statin therapy for reducing the risk of cardiovascular events with raised triglycerides should be switched to icosapent ethyl, if appropriate and in line with NICE TA805.
• In all other patients deprescribe omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters compounds (with the exception of icosapent ethyl prescribed in line with NICE TA805). Advise patients that they may purchase them over the counter if they still wish to take them after understanding that there is a lack of consistent evidence to support their use and a risk of atrial fibrillation. See MHRA drug safety update for more information.