Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 16 October 2026
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 16 October 2026. It includes information on:
New updates
Discontinuation date change: Epilim Crushable 100 mg tablets
Pharmac would like to inform you that we have secured additional supply of Epilim Crushable 100 mg tablets through to December next year (2027).
We are working to identify alternative options for people who are unable to transition to other funded treatments. In the meantime, the supplier has confirmed it can continue to meet current demand while this work is underway. Where appropriate we encourage clinicians to support their patients using Epilim Crushable 100 mg tablets to transition to funded alternatives to ensure stock remains available for the people who need it.
We will continue to provide updates Epilim discontinuation on Pharmac website
Medsafe approval: Teriparatide Teva Inj 250 mcg per ml, 2.4 ml
An alternate product was funded from August - Teriparatide S29 20 micrograms/80 microlitres, solution for Injection Pre-filled Pen 2.4 ml
This UK-branded teriparatide has now received approval from Medsafe. It can be prescribed and dispensed as normal from now. The Section 29 label will be removed from the Schedule when it is updated for November 2026. Teriparatide on Pharmac website
Coversyl tablets change of salt: Perindopril erbumine to Perindopril arginine
Please transition your patients currently on Coversyl 2 mg and 8 mg tablets to the equivalent perindopril arginine strengths (Coversyl 2.5 mg and 10 mg respectively) from now.
Coversyl 4 mg tablets will remain available longer. Please transition these patients to the equivalent Coversyl 5mg tablets from late October. Coversyl on Pharmac website
Perindopril erbumine can provide continuity for patients with repeat prescriptions, while perindopril arginine can be allocated to new prescriptions.
Discontinuations
Reminder discontinuation: Daonil (glibenclamide) tab 5 mgThe supplier Sanofi is discontinuing Daonil tab 5 mg globally. Sanofi has confirmed that they will continue supplying stock until February 2027.
Please ensure that patients are transitioned to a suitable alternative treatment.
There may be a small number of patients that are not able to transition to other treatment. Please consider the NPPA pathway (Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment) for accessing glibenclamide tab 5 mg for these patients.
Decision to fund medicines for people with high blood pressure and bacterial
infections
On 1 November 2026, Pharmac will widen access to the following treatments:
Bedaquiline (Sirturo) – for the treatment of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infection on the Community Schedule and Hospital medicines List
Linezolid (Zyvox) – for the treatment of NTM infection, on the Community Schedule (already listed on the Hospital Medicines List)
Captopril liquid (DP-Captopril) for the treatment of high blood pressure in patients with autonomic dysreflexia following spinal cord injury on the Community Schedule and Hospital medicines List
Detailed access criteria for each of the treatments included in this decision are available on the Pharmac website: Funding of treatments for high blood pressure and bacterial infections
