Quick answer: MediHarbour adheres to strict clinical verification standards. All medical claims, dosage principles, interaction warnings, and regulatory facts are sourced from Tier-1 UK health authorities: the NHS, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the British National Formulary (BNF). We maintain complete commercial independence and accept zero pharmaceutical sponsorship.
The UK clinical evidence hierarchy
In evaluating evidence for our guides, our editorial team follows a strict tier-based hierarchy, prioritizing authoritative UK statutory sources over international or secondary content:
| Evidence Tier | Authoritative Source | How We Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1: Statutory UK Regulators & Guidelines | National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), MHRA, British National Formulary (BNF), NHS UK | Primary authority for UK licensed indications, clinical treatment pathways, prescribing thresholds, and national drug safety alerts. |
| Tier 2: Manufacturer Regulatory Filings | electronic Medicines Compendium (emc) — Summaries of Product Characteristics (SmPC) & Patient Information Leaflets (PIL) | Authoritative chemical specifications, capsule excipients, pharmacokinetics, shelf-life, and licensed dosage schedules. |
| Tier 3: Professional Bodies & National Services | Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), British Geriatrics Society, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) | Specialist consensus guidelines, addiction medicine insights, and geriatric polypharmacy recommendations. |
| Tier 4: Systematic Reviews & Landmark Trials | Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), The Lancet | Independent efficacy evaluations, Number Needed to Treat (NNT), and randomized controlled trial data. |
Core editorial principles
- UK-Centric Relevance: Prescription laws, Controlled Drug schedules, brand availability, and clinical pathways differ significantly between countries. We explicitly focus on UK clinical reality and clearly signpost when discussing international evidence (e.g. US FDA rules).
- Complete Commercial Independence: We do not sell medications, accept advertising from pharmaceutical manufacturers, or participate in sponsored pharmaceutical content. Our editorial decisions are guided solely by clinical evidence and patient safety.
- Plain English Without Oversimplification: Medical literature is often inaccessible to patients and carers. We translate complex neuropharmacology into clear, understandable language while maintaining exact scientific precision.
- Clear Safety Boundaries: This site provides educational information only. We never provide individual medical diagnoses, calculate personalized tapering schedules, or encourage self-medication. All clinical decisions belong with registered GPs, pharmacists, or specialists.
Master directory of official UK clinical references
Below are the primary source documents and clinical databases utilized across the MediHarbour cluster:
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- NICE CG173: Neuropathic pain in adults: pharmacological management in non-specialist settings
- NICE CG113: Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management
- NICE NG217: Epilepsies in children, young people and adults
- NICE NG59: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management
- NICE NG193: Chronic primary pain in over 16s: assessment and management
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- MHRA Drug Safety Update (2021): Pregabalin and gabapentin: risk of severe respiratory depression
- MHRA Drug Safety Update (2022): Pregabalin: findings of safety study on risks during pregnancy
- MHRA Drug Safety Update: Updated information on dependence, withdrawal and tolerance
- MHRA Yellow Card Scheme: Adverse incident and side effect reporting portal
British National Formulary (BNF)
- BNF: Pregabalin drug monograph, licensed indications, dose titration, and cautions
- BNF: Pregabalin drug interactions checker
electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)
Official Government and Legislative Sources
- Home Office Circular 019/2018: Legislative control of Pregabalin and Gabapentin under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
- GOV.UK: Drug driving regulations and the statutory medical defence
- DVLA: Assessing fitness to drive – guide for medical practitioners
Corrections and feedback policy
Medical guidelines and drug safety alerts evolve continuously. If you are a healthcare professional, patient, or researcher who identifies an outdated reference, typographical error, or ambiguous claim in our resources, we welcome your feedback. Corrections are reviewed by our clinical editorial team within 48 hours and implemented immediately where verified.