Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Accord Healthcare has introduced a temporary supply restriction for midazolam ampoules as follows:
Midazolam Accord Injection
Midazolam 5mg/5mL
ARTG 207239
This supply restriction has been introduced due to an unexpected increase in demand. While wholesaler stocks are currently constrained, HPS Pharmacies has access to a limited supply for the benefit of our clients.
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 Accord Healthcare on 1800 222 673, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Aspen Australia has introduced a temporary supply restriction for adrenaline ampoules as follows:
Aspen Adrenaline Injection
Adrenaline (epinephrine) 1 mg/10 mL
ARTG 162463
While wholesale stocks are currently limited, HPS Pharmacies has been able to secure a limited supply based on our historical monthly usage.
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 Australia on 1300 659 646, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Perrigo Australia is experiencing a supply interruption for sodium citrate dehydrate mixture as follows:
Sodium Citrate Dihydrate Mixture 8.8%
Sodium citrate dihydrate 88mg/mL
ARTG 10805
Normal supplies are expected to resume in late September 2019.
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 Perrigo Australia on (02) 9847 7999, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Amdipharm Mercury Australia is experiencing a supply interruption for tranylcypromine tablets as follows:
Parnate®
Tranylcypromine (as sulfate) 10mg
ARTG 174086
Normal supplies are expected to resume in early November 2019. An internationally registered brand of tranylcypromine tablets has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. While Parnate® is presented as a blister pack of 50 tablets, the Section 19A alternative is supplied as a bottle of 100 tablets.
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 Amdipharm Mercury Australia on 1800 627 680, or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Pfizer is experiencing a supply interruption for sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim ampoules as follows:
DBL™ Sulfamethoxazole 400mg and Trimethoprim 80mg Concentrate Injection BP
Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim 400mg+80mg/5mL
ARTG 16293
Normal supplies are expected to resume in late April 2020. An internationally registered brand of sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim ampoules has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. The packaging for this product is in the German language. Please refer to the Australian product information for DBL™ Sulfamethoxazole 400mg and Trimethoprim 80mg Concentrate Injection for further information when using this product.
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.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Pfizer is experiencing a supply interruption for morphine tartrate ampoules as follows:
DBL™ Morphine Tartrate
Morphine tartrate 120mg/1.5mL
ARTG 16324
This is a long-term supply interruption that is expected to continue into 2020. While supplies are constrained, judicious use is recommended to reserve stock for cases with no therapeutic alternative.
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 |
| 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 1 mg/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. Therefore, the preparations may be used interchangeably. |
| Approved route of administration |
Subcutaneous, intramuscular and slow intravenous administration |
Subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous administration |
Subcutaneous, intramuscular or slow intravenous injection. |
| Strengths |
120mg/1.5mL
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 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.
Drug Availability Update
Further to DrugAlert Vol 483, 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:
The product information should be consulted for further information on the appropriate use of these agents. In order to avoid medication errors, it is also requested that all staff exercise additional diligence when prescribing, supplying, and administering these products during this supply interruption.
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 Availability Update
Further to DrugAlert 469, HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Pfizer Australia is continuing to experience a supply interruption for heparin as follows:
DBL™ Heparin Sodium Injection BP
Heparin sodium 5,000 IU/0.2mL
ARTG 16349
Supplies are expected to return to normal in mid-September 2019. An internationally registered brand of heparin sodium has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. The packaging for this product is in the German language. Please refer to the Australian product information for DBL™ Heparin Sodium for further information when using this product.
Supply of heparin sodium under Section 19A is associated with a longer lead time as the product must be sourced internationally. This product is also significantly more expensive than the Australian registered product it replaces. Consideration of therapeutic alternatives such as a low molecular weight heparin (e.g. enoxaparin) may be preferred where clinically appropriate.
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 629 921 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Discontinuation
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Mundipharma has advised of the discontinuation of Timoptol-XE® 0.25% eye drops as follows:
Timoptol-XE® 0.25% Eye Drops
Timolol (as maleate) 2.5mg/mL
ARTG 50304
Timoptol-XE® 0.25% will be deleted from the market on 30th November 2019. Timoptol-XE® 0.5% and Timoptol® 0.5% will remain available.
Timoptol-XE® products contain gellan gum and form a gel upon instillation to the conjunctival sac. This increases the contact time of the active ingredient with the eye, allowing once-daily administration. Timoptol® 0.5% is a non-gel forming product that should be administered twice a day.
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 Mundipharma on 1800 188 009 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Quarantine Update
Further to DrugAlert Vol 475, HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Baxter Healthcare, in consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), have lifted the drug quarantine status for Baxter Potassium Chloride 10mmol and 0.29% Sodium Chloride 100mL intravenous infusion bags as follows:
Baxter Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion
Potassium chloride 10mmol and Sodium Chloride 0.29%
ARTG 159379
The only batch affected by the quarantine was BN: W66L5 with an expiry date of January 2020.
This drug quarantine status has now been lifted following the successful completion of sterility testing on the contents of 20 bags using the methodology of the British Pharmacopoeia (BP) 2019 Appendix XVI.A Test for Sterility.
Any products placed into quarantine as a result of this issue may now be removed from quarantine and used as per standard protocols.
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, or Baxter on 1800 229 837.
