Drug Discontinuation
Further to DrugAlert Vol 492, HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Pfizer has discontinued the following morphine tartrate ampoules:
DBL™ Morphine Tartrate
Morphine tartrate 120mg/1.5mL
ARTG 16324
DBL™ Morphine Tartrate 400mg/5mL ampoules will continue to be available.
Morphine sulfate or morphine hydrochloride may be considered as alternatives. The following comparison table may be used to aid clinical decision making. The relevant product information should be reviewed for further information.
| DBL™ Morphine Tartrate Injection | DBL™ Morphine Sulfate Injection | Juno Morphine Hydrochloride Injection | |
| Approved indication | Symptomatic relief of severe and intractable pains of various categories, in terminal cancer patients. | Relief of moderate to severe pain not responsive to non-opioid analgesics. It may also be used as a pre-operative medication and as an analgesic adjunct in general anaesthesia. | Relief of moderate to severe pain not responsive to non-opioid analgesics; symptomatic relief of severe and intractable pain; terminal cancer pain; and as a pre-operative medication and analgesic adjunct in general anaesthesia |
| Composition | Morphine tartrate trihydrate, sodium metabisulphite 1mg/mL in water for injections. The pH of the solution is 4.0-5.0. | Isotonic, morphine sulfate pentahydrate and sodium chloride in water for injections. Hydrochloric acid (1N) is used to adjust the pH to 3.2-4.0. | Morphine hydrochloride in water for injections. The pH of the solution is 3.0-5.0. Hydrochloric acid (0.1N) is used to adjust the pH of the solution. |
| Dose equivalence | Morphine tartrate contains almost an equivalent amount of morphine base per milligram as morphine sulfate and morphine hydrochloride.1 | ||
| Approved route of administration | Subcutaneous, intramuscular and slow intravenous administration | Subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous administration | Subcutaneous, intramuscular or slow intravenous injection. |
| Strengths | 400mg/5mL | 5mg/1mL 10mg/1mL 15mg/1mL 30mg/1mL |
10mg/1mL 50mg/5mL 20mg/1mL 100mg/5mL |
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units for one month. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.
Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Pfizer on 1800 675 229, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
References:
Morphine Juno (morphine hydrochloride injection) Australian approved product information. South Yarra: Juno Pharmaceuticals. Approved August 2016.
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