Nifedipine (Tensipine MR10) 10mg MR tab: Supply issue

Affected product

Link Healthcare advises that it is out of stock of this product.  

Chemical: Nifedipine

• Presentation: Tab long-acting 10 mg
• Brand: Tensipine MR10
• Pharmacode: 2603217 
• Subsidy: $19.42
• Measure / Qty: per 56

This is an unapproved medicine, it needs to be supplied under Section 29.
The subsidy has been restricted to people who were taking it before 1 July 2023. 

This only affects the 10 mg long-acting nifedipine (Tensipine MR10). All other strengths remain available.

In 2023, we recommended that prescribers begin moving people away from this product because we could not secure ongoing supply. 

Alternatives 

Where Tensipine MR10 is unavailable, people can get other funded treatments. People will need to talk to their prescriber about the best alternative for their clinical circumstances. 

Calcium-channel blockers in the Schedule(external link)

NZ Formulary guidance on calcium-channel blockers(external link)

Guide to treat pre-eclampsia and hypertension in pregnancy | Health NZ(external link)

We have received clinical advice that the 20 mg nifedipine MR must not be halved to get the Tensipine MR10 effect. This causes acute hypotension (equivalent to having 10mg immediate-acting nifedipine).

Expected resupply by mid-June 2025

Link Healthcare expects to have stock again the first week of June (noting that it's a short week). It can take another 1 to 2 weeks from arrival to reach pharmacies around the motu.

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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