Oxycodone oral liquid (Lucis): Supply issue

Affected product

Oxycodone oral liquid has seen a significant increase in demand because of a recent supply issue affecting oxycodone immediate release tablets. Due to shipping delays the supplier is expecting a complete out of stock from mid-January until it is resupplied in February. There is now a supply issue affecting the oral liquid.

Oxycodone hydrochloride

• Presentation: Oral liq 1 mg per ml
• Brand: Oxycodone Lucis
• Pharmacode: 2678500
• Subsidy: $37.08
• Measure / Qty: per 250 ml

Schedule listing for oxycodone(external link)

All other presentations of oxycodone are available

Alternatives

We asked that the oxycodone was prioritised for people who cannot take morphine.

Clinicians need to decide from the available options what the most suitable alternative was for their patient. All other funded presentations of oxycodone are available and stock of the morphine oral liquid 1 mg per ml is available. 

• If you cannot source oxycodone oral liquid, Amneal oxycodone tablets can be dispersed in water.
• People will need a new prescription for oxycodone tablets.
• Please include dispersing instructions on the label if appropriate.
• 1 Amneal Oxycodone tablet can be dispersed in 6–7 ml of water and consumed immediately. Discard any remainder.

Another oral liquid (Rosemont Pharmacode 22717239) was funded. However, this product is no longer available. 

Review prescribing practice

We have received clinical advice that it may be appropriate for clinicians to review their prescribing practice around opioids. 

Revisiting opioid use in New Zealand: how does your prescribing compare? BPACnz(external link)

People who to take oral liquid oxycodone

If you cannot access oral liquid oxycodone, you will need to talk to the person who prescribed it for you. They will need to look at the available alternatives and consider what will work best for you. 

Review prescribing practice

We have received clinical advice that it may be appropriate for clinicians to review their prescribing practice around opioids. 

Revisiting opioid use in New Zealand: how does your prescribing compare? BPACnz(external link)

Resupply expected February 2026

The supplier advises that the next shipment of oxycodone oral liquid will arrive by the end of November. It takes another 1 to 2 weeks to reach pharmacies around New Zealand Aotearoa.

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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