Pharmacy First - Shingles treatment

PH3650 / 8752

OpenSAFELY

Jan 26, 2026

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OpenCodelists Phenotype

  1. Overview

    Codelist ID
    opensafely/pharmacy-first-shingles-treatment
    Version ID
    6d1e627a
    Coding System
    BNF codes
    Collections
    OpenCodelistPhenotype Library
    Tags
    No data

  2. Definition

    This codelist was taken from OpenCodelists, created by OpenSAFELY. We recommend viewing this Phenotype on the OpenCodelist website to view the most recent version.

    ### User requirements This codelist is used to identify supply of any medication included in the Pharmacy First Patient Group Directions for treatment of shingles.

    Sensitivity versus specificity

    Specific to only the strength/formulations included in the PGDs for shingles.

    Relevant definitions or links to important reference sources

    PGDs:

    https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PRN01010-2a.-Shingles-aciclovir-patient-group-direction-Pharmacy-First.pdf

    https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PRN01010-2b.-Shingles-valaciclovir-patient-group-direction-Pharmacy-First.pdf

    • Aciclovir 200mg tablets/dispersible tablets
    • Aciclovir 400mg tablets/dispersible tablets
    • Aciclovir 800mg tablets/dispersible tablets
    • Valaciclovir 500mg tablets

    Existing relevant codelists

    N/A

    © University of Oxford for the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science 2025. This work may be copied freely for non-commercial research and study.

  3. Methodology

    Search terms / synonyms / search strategy

    Aciclovir Valaciclovir

    Inclusion criteria for codes

    • Aciclovir 200mg tablets/dispersible tablets
    • Aciclovir 400mg tablets/dispersible tablets
    • Aciclovir 800mg tablets/dispersible tablets
    • Valaciclovir 500mg tablets

    Exclusion criteria for codes

    Topical formulations Intravenous formulations Oral solutions Strengths/formulations not listed above.

    Borderline cases

    N/A

  4. References

    Source Reference

    https://www.opencodelists.org/codelist/opensafely/pharmacy-first-shingles-treatment/6d1e627a

    References

  5. Clinical Codelist

  6. API

    To Export Phenotype Details:

    FormatAPI
    JSON site_root/api/v1/phenotypes/PH3650/version/8752/detail/?format=json
    R Package

    # Download here

    library(ConceptLibraryClient)


    # Connect to API

    client = ConceptLibraryClient::Connection$new(public=TRUE)


    # Get details of Phenotype

    phenotype_details = client$phenotypes$get_detail(
     'PH3650',
     version_id=8752
    )

    Py Package

    # Download here

    from pyconceptlibraryclient import Client


    # Connect to API

    client = Client(public=True)


    # Get details of Phenotype

    phenotype_detail = client.phenotypes.get_detail(
     'PH3650',
     version_id=8752
    )

    To Export Phenotype Code List:

    FormatAPI
    JSON site_root/api/v1/phenotypes/PH3650/version/8752/export/codes/?format=json
    R Package

    # Download here

    library(ConceptLibraryClient)


    # Connect to API

    client = ConceptLibraryClient::Connection$new(public=TRUE)


    # Get codelist of Phenotype

    phenotype_codelist = client$phenotypes$get_codelist(
     'PH3650',
     version_id=8752
    )

    Py Package

    # Download here

    from pyconceptlibraryclient import Client


    # Connect to API

    client = Client(public=True)


    # Get codelist of Phenotype

    phenotype_codelist = client.phenotypes.get_codelist(
     'PH3650',
     version_id=8752
    )

  7. Version History

    Version IDNameOwnerPublish date
    Pharmacy First - Shingles treatment ieuan.scanlon2026-01-26 23:28