HPS Pharmacies wishes to advise that Sanofi-Aventis is discontinuing Lasix® 40mg ampoules as follows:
Lasix® Ampoules
Furosemide 40mg/4mL
ARTG 76767
Other strengths of furosemide ampoules are not affected by this notice.
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units for at least 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 Sanofi-Aventis on 1800 818 806 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wishes to advise that Janssen-Cilag is discontinuing Tracleer® tablets as follows:
Tracleer® Tablets
Bosentan 62.5mg
ARTG 91919
Tracleer® Tablets
Bosentan 125mg
ARTG 91920
The decision to discontinue Tracleer® tablets is a commercial one and not related to any safety, efficacy, or quality issues. Generic alternatives of each strength continue to be marketed in Australia.
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units for at least 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 Janssen-Cilag on 1800 226 334 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wishes to advise that Novartis Pharmaceuticals have discontinued their diclofenac eye drops and suppository preparations as follows:
Voltaren® Ophtha Eye Drops
Diclofenac sodium 1mg/mL
ARTG 96654
Voltaren® Suppository
Diclofenac 12.5mg
ARTG 96797
Voltaren® Suppository
Diclofenac 25mg
ARTG 96810
Voltaren® suppositories are still available in strengths of 50mg and 100mg.
Alternative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) available in eye drop preparations are ketorolac and nepafenac. The product information documents can be consulted for further information on suitability.
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units for at least 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 Novartis Pharmaceuticals on 1800 671 203 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Lacuna Pharma, in consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has initiated a drug recall for K-Citra 10 tablets as follows:
K-Citra 10 Tablets
Potassium Citrate 1080mg
ARTG 405527
The batches affected by this drug recall are:
- 42301133-B (Exp: 02/2026)
- 42204121-B (Exp: 02/2026)
This drug recall was initiated due to a typographical error on the product label of the two batches mentioned above. The product label contains the incorrect strengths of 629.4 mg for the Potassium component and 390.6 mg for the Citrate.
The correct concentration of Equivalent Potassium is 390.6 mg, and the correct concentration of Equivalent Citrate is 629.4 mg.
Please inspect your stock and quarantine all affected products. If HPS Pharmacies provide imprest management services to your facility, an HPS representative will inspect all stock stored in the designated imprest areas at the earliest opportunity. All affected products will be quarantined for return to the supplier, and HPS Pharmacies will arrange for replacement stock as soon as possible. An HPS Pharmacies staff member will contact senior medical and nursing staff if there is an immediate impact to your facility.
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 Lacuna Pharma on (02) 4339 4239 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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Further to DrugAlert vol 915, HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Aspen Pharmacare Australia is experiencing a supply interruption for the following local anaesthetic products:
| Product |
ARTG |
Anticipated availability |
| Xylocaine 2% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (theatre pack) |
12021 |
Early June 2024 |
| Xylocaine 0.5% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (theatre pack) |
12008 |
Long term out of stock |
| Marcain 0.25% with Adrenaline 1:400,000 5x20mL (sterile theatre pack) |
125878 |
Mid-April 2024 |
| Marcain 0.5% with Adrenaline 1:200,000 5x20mL (sterile theatre pack) |
48329 |
Mid-late May 2024 |
All other Aspen local anaesthetic products are available.
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.
Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies, or Aspen Pharmacare Australia on 1300 659 646.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Fresenius Kabi is currently experiencing a supply interruption for Fresofol® as follows:
Fresofol® 1% MCT/LCT
Propofol 500mg/50mL
ARTG 193609
Normal supplies of Fresofol® 1% MCT/LCT 50mL vials are expected to resume by late April 2024. The 20mL and 100mL presentations of Fresofol® 1% MCT/LCT are currently unaffected and can be ordered as normal.
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.
Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Fresenius Kabi on (02) 9391 5555, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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Further to DrugAlert volume 917, HPS Pharmacies wishes to advise that some morphine oral solutions available under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 are now subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Section 19A products now subsidised on the PBS include:
- Morphine sulfate 10mg/5mL oral solution (Martindale Pharma)
- A-flagged to Ordine® 2 in the PBS schedule for general listings; no a-flagging for palliative care listing
- Product contains ethanol (0.4mL/5mL) and sucrose (2.25g/5mL).
- Morphine sulfate 10mg/5ml oral solution (Hikma)
- A-flagged to Ordine® 2 in the PBS schedule for general listings; no a-flagging for palliative care listing
- Sugar and alcohol free
- Morphini HCl Streuli (morphine hydrochloride) 10mg/mL oral drops (Switzerland)
- A-flagged to Ordine® 10 in the PBS schedule for general and palliative care listings
- Product is not labelled in English; additional care required when storing and dispensing this medicine. Health professionals should refer to the Australian product information for dosing information.
- Product contains alcohol (1.2% v/v).
Further information on PBS subsidies for S19A products is available on the PBS website.
Arrotex has taken over the sponsorship of Ordine® products and anticipates that supplies of all strengths of Ordine® Oral Solution will resume by late August 2024.
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 your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Alphapharm is currently experiencing a supply interruption for trimethoprim tablets as follows:
Trimethoprim Viatris
Trimethoprim 300 mg tablet
ARTG 338350
Normal supplies of Trimethoprim Viatris tablets are expected to resume by 5 April 2024. The alternative brands, Trimprim® and Alprim® are also experiencing supply issues in some states. Wholesalers anticipate normal supplies of these alternative brands to resume in early April 2024.
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.
Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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Further to DrugAlert vol 875, HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Pfizer is continuing to experience a supply interruption for Heparin as follows:
Heparin Sodium
Heparin sodium 5000IU/5mL
ARTG 49232
The supply interruption for boxes of 10 ampoules is expected to resolve by end-May 2024, and end-June 2024 for boxes of 50 ampoules.
Internationally registered alternatives have been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Please note that one of the S19A alternatives contains a preservative, while the Australian-registered product is preservative-free. Alternatives may also be accessed via the Special Access Scheme (SAS). There is currently a considerable lead time for accessing these alternative products.
Other presentations that are available to order as normal include:
- DBL Heparin Sodium 5000IU/0.2mL (5 amps)
- DBL Heparin Sodium 1000IU/1mL (50 amps)
- DBL Heparin Sodium 5000IU/1mL (5 amps)
Heparin is a high-risk medication. Additional care is recommended when selecting products, particularly when the packaging may be unfamiliar.
Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. 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.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Boehringer Ingelheim intends to discontinue Metalyse® 40mg as follows:
Metalyse® Powder for Injection
Tenecteplase (rch) 40mg
ARTG 75012
The 40mg presentation of Metalyse® will be deleted in September 2024, with stock predicted to be depleted by the end of January 2025. The decision to discontinue Metalyse® 40mg is due to low and diminishing demand for this presentation in Australia. This will also allow production to be streamlined for the 50mg presentation.
Metalyse® is also continuing to experience a supply shortage that is expected to persist until 31 December 2024. Boehringer Ingelheim is managing the supply of Metalyse® and anticipates that supplies of Metalyse® 50mg will be adequate to meet the agreed allocations for 2024. The conservation strategies recommended by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) continue to apply.
In addition, an internationally-registered brand of tenecteplase 50mg is approved for supply in Australia under section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. This product is also subsidised under the existing PBS listing for tenecteplase.
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 Boehringer Ingelheim on (02) 8875 8800 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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