HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Indivior is experiencing a supply interruption for Temgesic® as follows:
Temgesic® Sublingual Tablet
Buprenorphine 200mcg
ARTG 34091
Temgesic® Ampoule
Buprenorphine 300mcg/mL
ARTG 15394
Normal supplies of Temgesic® ampoules are expected to return in early February 2022. Normal supplies of Temgesic® sublingual tablets are expected to return in early March 2022. HPS Pharmacies has sourced an internationally registered alternative of buprenorphine ampoules which may be accessed via the Special Access Scheme (SAS), if necessary. Please note that SAS alternatives are subject to 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 Indivior on (02) 9025 0200 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Care Pharmaceuticals is experiencing a supply interruption for Fleet® as follows:
Fleet® Ready-to-Use Enema 133mL
Sodium phosphate monobasic + Sodium phosphate dibasic
ARTG 146795
Normal supplies are expected to resume in mid-February 2022.
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 Care Pharmaceuticals on 1800 788 870 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Abbvie has discontinued Lucrin® as follows:
Lucrin® Vials
Leuprorelin acetate 5mg/mL
ARTG 283081
HPS Pharmacies has sourced an internationally registered alternative which may be accessed via the Special Access Scheme (SAS), if necessary. Please note that SAS alternatives are subject to 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 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 Abbvie on 1800 043 460 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Reckitt Benckiser is experiencing a supply interruption for Solprin® as follows:
Solprin® Dispersible Tablets
Aspirin 300mg
ARTG 59902
Other brands of dispersible aspirin are also experiencing supply issues. However, there is some variation in availability between states and territories. Low-dose presentations of aspirin tablets are currently 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 Reckitt Benckiser on 1800 022 046 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Availability
Following the discontinuation of Effient®, HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that a new brand of prasugrel is now available as follows:
Prasugrel SCP Tablets
Prasugrel 5mg
ARTG 314201
Prasugrel SCP Tablets
Prasugrel 10mg
ARTG 314206
Prasugrel SCP is available but is not currently listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
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 Southern Cross Pharma on (03) 9236 2700 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Discontinuation
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Sanofi-Aventis is discontinuing CoPlavix® tablets as follows:
CoPlavix® Tablets
Clopidogrel + Aspirin 75mg/100mg
ARTG 150443
Supplies of CoPlavix® tablets are expected to be exhausted by May 2022. Equivalent brands of clopidogrel + aspirin tablets will remain available.
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.
Product Labelling Change Update
Further to DrugAlert vol 752, HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Phebra has made additional updates to the labelling of Calcium Gluconate Injection as follows:
Calcium Gluconate Injection
Calcium gluconate 931mg/10mL
ARTG 355191
The labelling was originally changed in November 2021 which gave the mg/mL strength more prominence than the strength displayed in mmol. Batches that have been packaged and released with this labelling contain the batch numbers 14984, 15019, 15041 and 15084.
However, Phebra has again amended the labelling to give more prominence to the mmol strength. All future batches will be packaged with this revised labelling.
For further information, consult the updated Product Information.
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 Phebra on 1800 720 020 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Product Labelling Change
HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Phebra has changed the labelling and formulation of Calcium Gluconate Injection as follows:
Calcium Gluconate Injection
Calcium gluconate 931mg/10mL
ARTG 355191
The following changes have been made:
- The original labelling was ‘Calcium Gluconate Injection 2.2 mmol of calcium in 10 mL’. The new labelling states ‘Calcium Gluconate Injection – calcium gluconate monohydrate 931 mg in 10 mL solution for injection’. The outer carton packaging and vials do still specify the concentration of calcium in mmol. However, this is not as prominent which may pose a safety risk; and
- The formulation has changed to improve stability. The concentration of calcium gluconate is now 931mg/10mL (previously 953mg/10mL) and the concentration of calcium saccharate is now 46mg/10mL (previously 30mg/10mL). However, there is no change to the overall calcium ion concentration of 2.2mmol calcium ions in 10mL. The new formulation is considered equivalent to the old formulation.
This packaging change (shown below) has occurred in order to align with the new labelling requirements in Therapeutic Goods Order No. 91. Other products are also expected to have labelling changes due to this updated order.
Original labelling
New labelling 
For further information, consult the updated Product Information.
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 Phebra on 1800 720 020 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Availability Update
Further to DrugAlert Vol 747, HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd is continuing to experience a supply interruption for the following local anaesthetic products:
| Product |
ARTG |
Estimated Return Date |
| Naropin 0.2% 5 x 100mL (sterile theatre pack) |
52396 |
December 2021 |
| Naropin 0.2% with Fentanyl 200mcg/100mL (sterile theatre pack) |
72874 |
December 2021 |
| Naropin 0.2% with Fentanyl 400mcg/100mL (sterile theatre pack) |
72876 |
January 2022 |
| Xylocaine 2% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (Sterile Theatre Pack)* |
12021 |
September 2022 |
| Xylocaine 1% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (Sterile Theatre Pack)* |
12015 |
September 2022 |
*HPS Pharmacies has sourced an internationally registered alternative for these products which may be accessed via the Special Access Scheme (SAS), if necessary. Please note that SAS alternatives are subject to a longer lead-time and different pricing as they must be sourced internationally.
The following presentations of Xylocaine with Adrenaline remain available:
- Xylocaine 0.5% Adrenaline 1:200,000 5X20mL (Sterile Theatre Pack)
- Xylocaine 1% Adrenaline 1:100,000 10X5mL Ampoules
- Xylocaine 2% Adrenaline 1:80,000 10X5mL Ampoules
Additional care is advised when ordering and administering these preparations as they are not direct substitutes for the products that are unavailable. The concentrations and volumes may be different, and the 5mL ampoules are not supplied in sterile theatre packs.
All other local anaesthetic products marketed by Aspen are available 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 your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies, or Aspen Pharmacare Australia on 1300 659 646.
Drug Discontinuation
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Sanofi is discontinuing Rulide® D tablets as follows:
Rulide D® Tablets
Roxithromycin 50mg
ARTG 54811
Supplies of Rulide® D are expected to be exhausted by February 2022.
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 on 1800 818 806 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
