HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd is continuing to experience a supply interruption for local anaesthetic products.
Anticipated availability information is available for the following products.
| Product |
ARTG |
Anticipated availability |
| Marcain 0.25% with Adrenaline 5x20mL |
125878 |
Out of stock* |
| Marcain 0.5% with Adrenaline 5x20mL |
48329 |
Out of stock* |
| Xylocaine 1% with Adrenaline 5x20mL |
12015 |
Out of stock* |
| Xylocaine 2% with Adrenaline 5x20mL |
12021 |
Out of stock* |
| Naropin 0.75% 5x20ml (Sterile Theatre Pack) |
52399 |
Mid-August 2023 |
| Marcain 0.5% 5x20ml (Sterile Theatre Pack) |
48328 |
Late May 2023 |
| Citanest 0.5% 5x50ml Vial |
12079 |
Early June 2023 |
*Out of stock – see table below for appropriate sterile theatre pack.
Distribution of the following Sterile Theatre Packs is expected to resume, as follows:
| Product |
ARTG |
Anticipated availability |
| Marcain 0.25% with Adrenaline 1:400,000 5x20mL (theatre pack) |
125878 |
July 2023 |
| Marcain 0.5% with Adrenaline 1:200,000 5x20mL (theatre pack) |
48329 |
August 2023 |
| Xylocaine 2% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (theatre pack) |
12021 |
July 2023 |
| Xylocaine 1% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (theatre pack) |
12015 |
September 2023 |
| Xylocaine 0.5% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (theatre pack) |
12008 |
To be confirmed |
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 Pfizer is anticipating a supply interruption for Edronax® tablets as follows:
Edronax® Tablets
Reboxetine 4mg
ARTG 79745
This supply interruption is expected to occur from mid-August and last until early October 2023.
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 Pfizer is anticipating a supply interruption for Dostinex® tablets as follows:
Dostinex® Tablets
Cabergoline 0.5mg
ARTG 52158
This supply interruption affects pack sizes of 8 tablets; the bottle presentation containing two tablets is not expected to be affected. Pfizer anticipates supply issues to begin in May and resolve by end-June 2023.
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 Pfizer is anticipating a supply interruption for Synarel® Nasal Spray as follows:
Synarel® Nasal Spray
Nafarelin 2mg/mL
ARTG 48127
This supply interruption is expected to begin from late June, with normal supplies resuming by mid-August 2023.
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 Pfizer is experiencing a supply interruption for Heparin as follows:
Heparin Sodium
Heparin sodium 5000IU/5mL
ARTG 49232
This supply interruption is expected to resolve by end-June 2023.
An internationally registered alternative has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Please note that the S19A alternative contains a preservative, while the Australian product is preservative-free.
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 Pfizer is experiencing a supply interruption for Heparinised Saline as follows:
Heparinised Saline
Heparin sodium 50 IU/5mL
ARTG 66684
This supply interruption is expected to resolve by late July 2023.
An internationally registered alternative has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. This product is registered for use in the United Kingdom, and all packaging is in English. It is identical to the Australian registered product for active ingredient, strength, and excipients. However, there are some presentation differences, as shown in the table below.
| |
Australian Product |
S19A Product |
| Labelled as |
Heparinised saline |
Flushing solution |
| Pack size |
50 ampoules |
10 ampoules |
| Presentation |
LDPE ampoules |
Glass ampoules |
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 is experiencing a supply interruption for Actilyse® as follows:
Actilyse® Vial
Alteplase (rch) 10mg
ARTG 64240
Actilyse® Vial
Alteplase (rch) 50mg
ARTG 17905
This supply interruption is expected to resolve by the end of December 2023.
During this period, Boehringer Ingelheim will be closely controlling supplies of both alteplase and tenecteplase. The product information for Metalyse® and Actilyse® are available from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Internationally registered alternative brands have been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. However, supplies of these alternatives may not be stable.
Further information, including clinical recommendations, is available on the TGA website.
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 Boehringer Ingelheim on 1800 226 315 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that all manufacturers are experiencing a supply interruption for nizatidine capsules as follows:
| Product |
ARTG |
Expected date of return |
| Nizac® 150mg |
284129 |
Late October 2023 |
| Tacidine® 150mg |
94204 |
Late May 2023 |
| Tazac® 150mg |
284130 |
TBA |
| Nizac® 300mg |
96963 |
Late October 2023 |
| Tacidine® 300mg |
94205 |
Late May 2023 |
| Tazac® 300mg |
49326 |
Late October 2023 |
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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HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Novartis Pharmaceuticals, in consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has initiated a product defect correction for Water for Injection (WFI) ampoules co-packed with Simulect® 20mg vials as follows:
Simulect® Vials
Basiliximab 20mg
ARTG 66740
This product defect correction was initiated following the identification of process-related particles in the WFI ampoules that are co-packed with the Simulect® vials. There have not been any reports of quality complaints or adverse effects related to this issue.
This product defect correction only applies to WFI ampoules with the batch number: M0797 (contained in Simulect® packs with a batch number of SHMR6).
Simulect® vials from the affected batch may continue to be safely used with an alternative WFI ampoule. Replacement WFI ampoules should be free from additives and compliant with the European Pharmacopoeia.
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 Novartis Pharmaceuticals on 1800 671 203 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Pfizer is experiencing a supply interruption for potassium chloride ampoules as follows:
Sterile Potassium Chloride Concentrate (Pfizer)
10 mmol (750 mg) of potassium chloride in 10 mL
ARTG 10793
Normal supplies are expected to resume in early October 2023.
Potassium Chloride (Juno) 10 mmol (750 mg) ampoules are currently available and may be used as an alternative. As concentrated potassium chloride ampoules are a high-risk medication, a risk assessment should be conducted prior to switching brands.
Key points to consider are:
- Potassium chloride ampoules should only be stored in authorised clinical areas;
- Ampoules should be stored in their original container until immediately before use; and
- Ampoules must be physically separated from other ampoules of similar appearance.
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 Australia on 1800 675 229 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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