Further to DrugAlert vol 1044, HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Sanofi-Aventis is deferring its discontinuation of Epilim® Crushable tablets as follows:
Epilim® Crushable Tablets
Sodium valproate 100mg
ARTG 15373
Epilim® Crushable tablets are now set to be deleted from the Australian market on 30th September 2027. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is in consultation with subject matter experts and the sponsor to develop a management strategy.
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 Sanofi-Aventis on 1800 818 806 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Indivior is discontinuing Sublocade® as follows:
Sublocade® Injection
Buprenorphine 100 mg/0.5 mL
ARTG 303476
Sublocade® Injection
Buprenorphine 300 mg/1.5 mL
ARTG 303753
Both presentations are set to be discontinued on 31 December 2026.
Indivior advises healthcare professionals to consider alternative treatment options. Buvidal® is another long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) product that may be considered. NSW Health provides some guidance on transitioning between LAIB formulations based on pharmacokinetic and clinical data. Care is required due to a lack of clinical studies in this area.
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 Indivior on (02) 9025 0200 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Pfizer is experiencing a supply interruption for promethazine ampoules as follows:
DBL™ Promethazine Hydrochloride Ampoules
Promethazine hydrochloride 50mg/2mL
ARTG 16255
Normal supplies are expected to resume from the end of November 2026.
An internationally registered alternative has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Please note that S19A products may have a longer lead time and different pricing as they must be sourced internationally.
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 Interpharma is experiencing a supply interruption for ketamine ampoules as follows:
Ketamine Interpharma Ampoules
Ketamine (as hydrochloride) 250 mg/5 mL
ARTG 310912
Normal supplies are expected to resume from the end of August 2026.
Note: Ketamine-Baxter (ketamine hydrochloride) Solution for Injection remains available in 200 mg/2 mL 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 Interpharma on (02) 9976 6876, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Baxter is experiencing a supply interruption for Holoxan® vials as follows:
Holoxan® Vials
Ifosfamide 1g
ARTG 43608
Holoxan® Vials
Ifosfamide 2g
ARTG 43609
Normal supplies of Holoxan® vials are expected to resume in mid-December 2026.
During this period, Baxter will manage available stock, with distribution allocated based on historical customer demand and supply availability.
Internationally registered alternatives have been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. However, supplies of these products are currently very limited. Access to alternative products via the Special Access Scheme (SAS) may also be considered.
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 Baxter Healthcare on 1300 302 409, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Aspen is experiencing a supply interruption for Marcain® ampoules as follows:
Marcain® 0.5% Ampoules
Bupivacaine hydrochloride (as monohydrate) 100mg/20 mL
ARTG 48328
Normal supplies are expected to resume from mid-July 2026.
Note: Marcain® 0.5% 50mg/10mL ampoules are currently still 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 Aspen Pharmacare on 1300 659 646, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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Further to DrugAlert vol 1039, HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that all brands are continuing to experience a supply interruption for salbutamol 5mg nebules as follows:
Ventolin® Nebules
Salbutamol 5mg/2.5mL
ARTG 12534
Salbutamol Cipla Inhalation Ampoules
Salbutamol 5mg/2.5mL
ARTG 115657
Normal supplies of Salbutamol Cipla 5mg inhalation ampoules and Ventolin 5mg nebules are expected to return by the end of June 2026.
Salbutamol 2.5mg nebules are now also experiencing a supply interruption due to increased demand. Normal supplies of Ventolin® 2.5mg/2.5ml nebules are expected to return by mid-July 2026 and Salbutamol Cipla 2.5mg inhalation ampoules by the end of October 2026.
An internationally registered alternative of salbutamol 5mg nebules has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Please note that S19A products may have a longer lead time and different pricing as they must be sourced internationally.
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 Bayer is discontinuing the following contrast media products:
Gastrografin® Oral Liquid
Sodium amidotrizoate / amidotrizoate meglumine
ARTG 10684 and 471827
Urografin® 10mL Ampoules
Sodium amidotrizoate / amidotrizoate meglumine
ARTG 42161
Urografin® 250mL Injection Bottle
Sodium amidotrizoate / amidotrizoate meglumine
ARTG 42163
As previously advised in DrugAlert vol 1047, these products were subject to a recall due to detection of a nitrosamine impurity above the less-than-lifetime acceptable intake (LTL AI) limit. The products have remained unavailable since that time, and Bayer has confirmed there will be no further supply.
Bayer advises that alternative products or medical approaches are available in most cases. If further information on alternative products is required, Bayer medical information can be reached on 1800 008 757 or via email at [email protected].
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 give notice that Cipla Australia, in consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has issued a drug recall for hydrocortisone vials as follows:
Cipla Hydrocortisone Vials
Hydrocortisone (as sodium succinate) 100 mg
ARTG 373394
The only batch affected by this recall is: HY0042501A (Expiry: 02/2027)
This drug recall was initiated following a report of a single glass fragment in a vial from the abovementioned batch. Inadvertent administration of glass fragments, particularly via the intravenous route, may result in serious adverse outcomes including embolism, vascular injury, and inflammatory reactions.
Please inspect your stock and quarantine all products from the affected batch. 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 Cipla Australia (03) 9696 4438, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
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Further to DrugAlert vol 1040, HPS Pharmacies wish to provide an update on the availability of Prostin® E2 as follows:
Prostin® E2 Vaginal Gel
Dinoprostone 1mg
ARTG 9983
Prostin® E2 Vaginal Gel
Dinoprostone 2mg
ARTG 9984
Normal supplies of the 1mg product are expected to resume by the end of October 2026, with the 2mg product following at the end of November 2026.
An internationally registered alternative of each strength has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Unfortunately, these products are also unavailable due to a manufacturer-level supply failure in the UK. The S19A permit holder is unable to give an estimated return date for these products.
No equivalent products are currently available. Potential alternatives that prescribers may consider include dinoprostone controlled-release pessary (Cervidil®), oxytocin, and misoprostol. Availability of these products may vary throughout the country.
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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