Macrogol 3350 (Molaxole) Powder: Supply issue

Affected product

Supply of the following product will be constrained until mid-August 2025. 

• Chemical: Macrogol 3350 with potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride
• Presentation: Powder for oral soln 13.125 g with potassium chloride 46.6 mg, sodium bicarbonate 178.5 mg and sodium chloride 350.7 mg
• Brand: Molaxole
• Pharmacode: 2519887 
• Subsidy: $8.50
• Measure / Qty: per 30

Alternative products

Where macrogol is not available, prescribers may want to consider the following alternatives (links to the NZ Formulary):

• Lactulose – Oral liquid 10g per 15ml(external link)
• Poloxamer – Oral drops 10%(external link)
• Docusate sodium + sennoside B tablets (Laxsol)(external link)
• Docusate sodium (Coloxyl)(external link)
• Sennoside B (Senna) part subsidy with restrictions(external link)
• Glycerol – suppositories 2.8/4.0g(external link)
• Phosphate sodium dibasic + phosphate sodium monobasic (Fleet enema)(external link)
• Sodium acid phosphate – enema 16% with sodium phosphate 8%(external link)
• Sodium citrate with sodium lauryl sulphoacetate(external link) – enema 90mg with sodium lauryl sulphoacetate 9mg per ml, 5ml i.e. Microlax

Alternative macrogol product

From 1 August 2025, another alternative product will be funded. Stock of Movicol should be available by early August 2025. 

• Chemical: Macrogol 3350 with potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride
• Presentation: Powder for oral soln 13.125 g with potassium chloride 46.6 mg, sodium bicarbonate 178.5 mg and sodium chloride 
• Brand: Movicol
• Pharmacode: 2194864 
• Subsidy: $12.19
• Measure / Qty: per 30

Movicol is Medsafe approved

Movicol Datasheet [PDF] | Medsafe website(external link)

Expected resupply

The next shipment is expected in August 2025.

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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