Packaging Update
HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Phebra have updated the packaging and labelling on Laceraine® as follows:
Laceraine® Topical Wound Anaesthetic
Adrenaline (epinephrine) acid tartrate 9mg + Tetracaine (amethocaine) hydrochloride 25mg + Lidocaine (lignocaine) hydrochloride monohydrate 200mg in 5mL
The colour and design of the carton and vial label have been updated along with the information contained in the medicine label. Of particular importance is the change to the naming of the active ingredients in line with the Australian Approved Name.
Adrenaline is now labelled as ‘Adrenaline (Epinephrine) Acid Tartrate’. The conversion factor between this salt form and adrenaline is shown below:
9mg Adrenaline (Epinephrine) Acid Tartrate = 5mg Adrenaline
Please note: there has been no change to the formulation of this product.
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 Phebra on (02) 9420 9199.
Safety Alert
HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Link, in consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), have given notice of a safety alert for Adrenaline-Link as follows:
Adrenaline-Link pre-filled syringe
Adrenaline (epinephrine) acid tartrate 1:10,000 (1mg/10mL)
ARTG 210672
This safety alert has been released to advise practitioners that not all connector systems are directly compatible with Adrenaline-Link pre-filled syringes. The TGA have received reports of blocked syringe bores, which made it difficult or impossible to deliver a dose of this important medication. The use of incompatible connectors (and adaptors where required) may contribute to blocked syringes. The packaging of Adrenaline-Link pre-filled syringes has been updated to include a warning statement on this issue. However, not all stock currently in supply has this new labelling.
Connectors that are compatible with this product include:
- Baxter Healthcare – Clearlink needle free luer activated devices
- Braun Medical – Ultrasite/Safeflow connectors
- Becton Dickinson – BD Q-Syte™ connectors
- BMDi TUTA Healthcare – H-Port, N-Pulse and T-Site luer valve connectors
- CareFusion™ Maxplus Displacement connectors
- CareFusion™ SmartSite® Valve
- ICU Medical – CLC 2000 Connector
Compatible connectors to be used with an adaptor:
- ICU MEDICAL – Microclave CONNECTOR to be used with CS-25 ADAPTOR
- ICU MEDICAL – Microclave Clear CONNECTOR to be used with CS-25 ADAPTOR
It is currently not recommended to use other connectors with Adrenaline-Link pre-filled syringes.
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 Link on 1800 181 060.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that GlaxoSmithKline Australia are experiencing a supply interruption for Ventolin® ampoules as follows:
Ventolin® Injection Ampoule
Salbutamol 500mcg/1mL
ARTG 12527
This supply interruption is due to a warehouse accident that resulted in the loss of a significant stockpile of Ventolin® ampoules. While wholesaler stocks are currently constrained, HPS Pharmacies has access to a limited supply of Ventolin® 500mcg/1mL ampoules 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 GlaxoSmithKline Australia on (03) 9413 7200 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
Drug Recall
HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Sandoz Australia, in consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), have given notice of a drug recall for Curam® Duo 400/57 as follows:
Curam Duo® Powder for Suspension
Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid 400mg+57mg/5mL
ARTG 147109
The only batches affected by this recall are JC5418 and JC5419. Both affected batches have an expiry date of July 2021.
This drug recall has been initiated following identification of an anomaly during the manufacturing process that may affect the air-tight sealing system. Failure of the seal may allow entry of moisture into the product from the atmosphere. This may cause degradation of the active ingredients and reduce effectiveness.
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 your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies, or Sandoz on 1800 726 369.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Accord is expecting a supply interruption for pemetrexed as follows:
Pemetrexed Accord
Pemetrexed (as disodium) 500mg
ARTG 222415
This anticipated supply interruption is due to a delay in final approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for a manufacturing variation. Supplies are expected to return to normal in mid-late June 2019. While warehouse supplies of Pemetrexed Accord 500mg vials are likely to be exhausted in the next two weeks, HPS Pharmacies can organise alternative supplies of pemetrexed 500mg through Baxter for the benefit of our clients. This supply interruption does not affect Pemetrexed Accord 1g or Pemetrexed Accord 100mg.
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.
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that all presentations of irbesartan and irbesartan with hydrochlorothiazide are experiencing supply issues as summarised below:
| Product |
ARTG |
Expected Return Date |
| Avsartan 75mg |
268780 |
Early June 2019 |
| Avsartan 150mg |
268774 |
Early June 2019 |
| Avsartan 300 mg |
268772 |
Early June 2019 |
| Avsartan HCT 150/12.5 |
272655 |
Early June 2019 |
| Avsartan HCT 300/12.5 |
272659 |
Early June 2019 |
| Avsartan HCT 300/25 |
272662 |
Early June 2019 |
This supply interruption follows the discontinuation of a number of generic brands of irbesartan and irbesartan with hydrochlorothiazide. This has resulted in an unexpected increase in demand for the remaining brands on the market. While wholesaler stocks have been affected, HPS Pharmacies has access to a limited supply of irbesartan and irbesartan with hydrochlorothiazide 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 your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that flucloxacillin capsules are experiencing a supply interruption as follows:
| Product |
ARTG |
Expected Return Date |
| Flopen® 250mg |
209367 |
Limited availability |
| Staphylex 250 |
17683 |
Mid-late May 2019 |
| Flopen® 500mg |
209368 |
Limited availability |
| Staphylex 500 |
17684 |
Mid-late May 2019 |
This supply interruption is due to manufacturing issues and a subsequent increase in demand for other brands on the market. While wholesaler stocks have been affected, HPS Pharmacies has access to a limited supply of flucloxacillin capsules 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 your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that the following brands of metoclopramide ampoules are experiencing a supply interruption:
| Product |
ARTG |
Expected Return Date |
| Metoclopramide Injection 10mg/2mL x10 |
11364 |
July 2019 |
| Metoclopramide Injection 10mg/2mL x50 |
11364 |
31st May 2019 |
| Maxolon® 10mg/2mL x10 |
40204 |
22nd May 2019 |
This supply interruption is due to an unexpected increase in demand.
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
Drug Availability
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that GlaxoSmithKline Australia are experiencing a supply interruption for Priorix® and Priorix-Tetra® as follows:
Priorix®
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine
ARTG 97842
Priorix-Tetra®
Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine
ARTG 107286
This supply interruption is due to increased demand following provision of the vaccine to measles outbreak control programs throughout Australia. Supplies of Priorix® to non-government customers are expected to return to normal in early October 2019. This supply interruption does not affect the supply of Priorix® under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Supplies of Priorix-Tetra® are expected to return to normal by late October 2019. An alternative measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine will be available for children under the NIP during this time.
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 GlaxoSmithKline Australia on (03) 9413 7200 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that the following brands of fentanyl 100mcg/2mL ampoules are continuing to experience a supply interruption:
While wholesaler stocks of fentanyl ampoules are limited, HPS Pharmacies has managed to secure a limited supply, based on our historical usage, of fentanyl 100mcg/2mL for the benefit of our clients. Our supplier is expecting a shipment of fentanyl mid-May 2019, which should ease the restrictions. Supplies of fentanyl 500mcg/10mL ampoules are currently unaffected. To ensure that current supplies are adequate, a judicious approach to the use of fentanyl should be considered with particular care taken to ensure the most appropriate fentanyl ampoule size is used in each instance.
An internationally registered brand of fentanyl 100mcg/2mL ampoules is also available for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Please note that Section 19A 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 your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.
