What is a 'Special' ?

A 'Special' is the name commonly used for a medicine which does not have a product licence.

It is often thought that this means a totally new drug which has not yet been licensed for use because it is still in its clinical trial stage and the effects are unknown. This may be the case but more usually there are other reasons why the product is not licensed. The following list gives an example of some of the more common reasons.

• A medicine which is administered by a route which is different to the one for which the drug is currently licensed.

• A medicine which has been found to be useful in the treatment of conditions other than those for which it is licensed.

• A medicine which is given in an unusual strength (for example, low-dose formulation for children) or which has a special formulation (such as a sugar-free or preservative-free preparation).

• A medicine where the small use of the product or its very short shelf life would mean that to obtain a licence would not be commercially viable.

• Older drugs or formulations which have previously been licensed but that are no longer available for commercial reasons.

• A licensed medicine which is unavailable for some reason at that time (this is the only time a 'special' can be used in place of a licensed equivalent).

• A medicine which is licensed in another country but not in the UK.