Salbutamol (Asthalin) nebuliser 1 mg and 2 mg per ml: Supply issue

Affected product

Due to manufacturing delays, Rex Medical (the supplier) ran out of the 1 mg / ml strength: 

• Brand: Asthalin
• Presentation: Nebuliser soln, 1 mg per ml, 2.5 ml ampoule - Up to 30 neb available on a PSO
• Pharmacode: 2154315
• Subsidy: $8.96
• Measure / Qty: per 20

Stock of the registered 2 mg per ml strength is now being reserved for ambulances. 

• Brand: Asthalin
• Presentation: Nebuliser soln, 2 mg per ml, 2.5 ml ampoule - Up to 30 neb available on a PSO
• Pharmacode: 2154323
• Subsidy: $9.43
• Measure / Qty: per 20

Alternative products for the 1 mg / ml

Using the 2 mg/ml strength 

The 2 mg/ml strength may be dispensed as an alternative. Pharmacists, please explain to people how to dilute this product to the prescribed strength.

If you use Asthalin nebulisers, please make sure you've spoken to your health care provider about how to get the right strength before you use it. 

Alternative 1 mg / ml listed 1 August 2025

An alternative was funded from 1 August 2025. 

• Chemical: Salbutamol
• Brand: UK Cipla
• Presentation: Nebuliser soln, 1 mg per ml, 2.5 ml ampoule - Up to 30 neb available on a PSO
• Pharmacode: 2710811
• Subsidy: $8.96
• Measure / Qty: per 20
• Unapproved medicine.

Alternative product for the 2 mg / ml listed

This product is not Medsafe approved and will need to be used in line with section 29A of the Medicines Act. Once this alternative product is available, Rex will reserve remaining Asthalin stock for ambulance use.

• Brand: UK Cipla
• Presentation: Nebuliser soln, 2 mg per ml, 2.5 ml ampoule
• Pharmacode: 2712199
• Subsidy: $9.43
• Measure / Qty: per 20

Prescribing and supplying an unapproved medicine

Section 29A of the Medicines Act 1981 allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be prescribed and supplied to people. 

We know supplying a medicine under section 29 is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow patients to be able to access an appropriate treatment. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. 

Prescriber and pharmacist requirements for section 29 medicines – Medsafe website(external link)

What patients need to know about unapproved medicines – Healthify website(external link)

Supplying salbutamol nebules on PSO

Salbutamol nebuliser solution 2 mg per ml, 2.5 ml ampoule is available on Practitioner’s Supply Order (PSO).

Normally medicines that are not Medsafe approved cannot be used on PSO because section 29 of the Medicines Act requires that the patient to be known at the time of supply.

As holding an emergency supply of salbutamol nebuliser solution may be essential for patient safety, salbutamol nebuliser solution that is not Medsafe approved can be supplied to medical practitioners on a PSO where there is no suitable Medsafe approved alternative available.

The practitioner must provide the patient details to the pharmacy retrospectively to meet the requirements of section 29B of the Medicines Act.

Resupply dates

The supplier can no longer supply the Asthalin salbutamol 1mg / ml to New Zealand. Further supply of Asthalin 2 mg / ml is expected, and Pharmac is working with the supplier to understand timeframes for supply.

Who to contact

If you have questions about this issue, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Please include as much information as you can about the product (presentation, brand, pharmacode) and who your wholesaler is.  

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