Calcium Resonium powder: supply issue
Calcium Resonium (Pharmacode: 201510) will be out of stock from late February until May 2026.
Affected product
Due to delays at the manufacturer, Calcium Resonium powder will be unavailable between late February and May 2026.
- Chemical: Calcium polystyrene sulphonate
- Presentation: Powder
- Brand: Calcium Resonium
- Pharmacode: 201510
- Subsidy: $169.85
- Measure / Qty: per 300 g OP
Schedule listing for calcium polystyrene sulphonate(external link)
Other calcium products are not affected by this supply issue.
Alternative product
An alternative product will be funded from 1 February 2026. It should be available to order by mid-February 2026.
This product has not been approved by Medsafe for use in New Zealand. It is approved for use in the UK. It will need to be prescribed and dispensed in line with section 29A of the Medicines Act.
- Chemical: Calcium polystyrene sulphonate
- Presentation: Powder
- Brand: Roma
- Pharmacode: 2720590
- Subsidy: $169.85
- Measure / Qty: per 300 g OP
Same active ingredient in the same quantity
The Rosa brand powder has the same active ingredient as the Calcium Resonium brand. However, it is written down differently, the Roma brand uses a percentage.
Calcium Resonium refers to 999.3 mg/g and the amount each 15 g of powder contains calcium polystyrene sulfonate 14.99 g. Roma brand refers to 99.934 %w/w and each 100 g of powder contains 99.934 g of calcium polystyrene sulfonate.
It is the same amount and will work the same way.
Use Roma immediately
You must use the Roma brand immediately after you have prepared it. You cannot store it.
The Calcium Resonium brand does allow you to store the made-up product for up to 24 hours. You cannot do this with the Roma brand.
- Calcium Resonium supply issue flyer Jan 26 [PDF 177 KB]
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 29A is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow people to continue to access an appropriate treatment.
We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.
Advice for prescribing under section 29 – BPAC website(external link)
What patients need to know about unapproved medicines – Healthify website(external link)
May 2026 expected resupply
The supplier expects to have the registered brand, Calcium Resonium, available again in May 2026.
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.
Sign up to our email list for regular emails about supply issues and more(external link)