Sildenafil (Vedafil) 25 and 50 mg tablets: Supply issue
Due to an issue at the manufacturing plant, there is a supply issue affecting the 25 mg and 50 mg strengths of Vedafil brand sildenafil.
Affected product
Due to a manufacturing issue, the 25 mg and 50 mg Vedafil brand tablets will be in short supply.
Pharmacodes: 25 mg 2377764 | 50 mg 2377780.
The 100 mg tablets are not currently affected by this issue.
Schedule listing for sildenafil(external link)
Large private market for sildenafil
Sildenafil is funded for a small number of reasons, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon, and erectile dysfunction due to spinal cord injury. Sildenafil has a large private market (unfunded) in New Zealand. This creates additional challenges when trying to preserve limited stock for people with funded access.
Reserving stock for people with funded access
Viatris, the supplier, has communicated to pharmacies about reserving stock of sildenafil for the funded market.
Viatris' letter to pharmacies about sildenafil supply issue [PDF, 261 KB]
Alternatives
As the 50 mg is expected to run out shortly, we have listed an alternative from 10 August 2026.
50 mg Amarox funded from 10 August 2026
Sildenafil (Amarox) 50 mg tablet (Pharmacode: 2377780) will be funded in the community from 10 August 2026. It will be supplied by Orspec from mid-August 2026.
The listing will not appear in the Online Schedule until the 1 September 2026 update is published.
Sildenafil (Amarox) has not been reviewed by Medsafe so it needs to be prescribed and dispensed in line with section 29A of the Medicines Act.
It will be funded on the Hospital Medicines List from 1 September 2026.
Claiming for August dispensing
Community pharmacies will need to defer claiming for this product until September 2026. If claims are declined in August, you can resubmit in September.
25 mg alternative brand
We are continuing to work with suppliers to source and fund another brand of 25 mg sildenafil before supply of the 25 mg runs out.
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 when there is a supply issue affecting the registered brand.
We know supplying an unapproved medicine 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.
What patients need to know about unapproved medicines – Healthify website(external link)
People who take funded sildenafil
Pharmac is working with suppliers to help maintain access to sildenafil for people who receive this medicine for funded conditions.
The alternative product contains the same active ingredient in the same amount as the New Zealand approved brand you usually take (Vedafil).
The Amarox brand has not been reviewed by Medsafe for use in New Zealand, however, it has been approved for use in other countries. Prescribers will need to explain what this means before they can prescribe it for you.
About unapproved medicines - Healthify(external link)
Expected resupply
We are working with the supplier to understand when Vedafil will be available again.
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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