This is the text extract for 2010-05 Clinicians Newsletter, browse documents here.

Pharmaceutical Management Agency

PHO Newsletter

Prazosin hydrochloride – out of stock

May 2010

PHARMAC has been advised that the current supplier of prazosin hydrochloride tablets in New Zealand, Apotex NZ Ltd, is running short of stock of the 1 mg and 2 mg tablets. There are no other registered suppliers in New Zealand. Prazosin hydrochloride 1 mg and 2 mg tablets are already on monthly dispensing (Close Control) without the need for doctor endorsement, effective 12 February 2010. Options (all fully funded) for patients include: • scored 5 mg prazosin hydrochloride tablets (there is sufficient stock of this strength) • doxazosin mesylate • terazosin hydrochloride

Tri-phasic oral contraceptives – delisting

PHARMAC has received notice that the last remaining supplier of subsidised tri-phasic oral contraceptives intends to discontinue supply to the New Zealand market. Trifeme will be delisted from 1 November 2010 (six months after notification from the supplier of stock depletion). The Hormone and Contraceptive Subcommittee of PTAC considered that there was no clinical need for a tri-phasic oral contraceptive to be subsidised and that Brevinor 1 would be an appropriate alternative. Moclobemide – delisting of GenRx Moclobemide brand Supply of the Apo-Moclobemide brand of moclobemide tablets 150 mg and 300 mg has recently been resumed. As a result, the GenRx Moclobemide brand will be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 November 2010. Sole Supply Status will be reinstated for the Apo-Moclobemide brand from 1 November 2010.

Pending medicine discontinuations:

• Morphine sulphate (m-Eslon) 200 mg long-acting capsules will no longer be available once current stocks are exhausted, this date is expected to be August-September 2010. • Healtheries has advised that it intends to discontinue supply of its brand of multivitamin tablets. Stocks of Healtheries Multivitamins are expected to remain available until the end of July 2010, although there are some stock issues at the moment. PHARMAC is working on a long-term solution to the current supply issues and will advise of the replacement brand shortly.

Special Authority Queries: 0800 243 666 General Questions: 0800 66 00 50 (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday) Online: www.pharmac.govt.nz/healthpros/Schedule/PHONewsletter Newsletter feedback: email rachel.mackay@pharmac.govt.nz

Please note this is not a complete reference to all changes occurring from 1 March 2010, for the full reference, please consult your Update to the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

“Make life easier, always prescribe generically”