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 was funded. 

• 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

Stock of Molaxole arrived in August 2025. More stock is expected in early September 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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