Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 2 October 2026
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 2 October 2026. It includes information on:
Discontinuation Reminder: Sodium valproate (Epilim) 100mg crushable tablets
Sanofi expects that stock will be available until the end of November 2026. Please transition affected patients as soon as possible. For more information Epilim discontinuation 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.
Reminders
Discontinuation reminder: insulinsNovoNordisk are rationalising their product range and discontinuing three insulins from the 3 ml penfill range. Penmix 30 3 ml penfill was depleted April 2026. Patients will need to transition to a suitable alternative.
Insulin Type | Brand | Presentation | Date supplier stops selling to wholesalers |
Insulin aspart with insulin aspart protamine | NovoMix30 | FlexPen 3 ml prefilled disposable pen | End of 2026 |
Insulin neutral | Actrapid | Penfill 3 ml | End of 2026 |
Insulin isophane | Protaphane | Penfill 3 ml | End of 2026 |
There is a clinical update - Insulin therapy in diabetes. NZSSD PDF -external link
Eli Lilly has discontinued the 4 insulins below in the 10 ml vial presentation. The 3 ml penfill presentations remain available.
Humalog
Humulin NPH
Humulin 30/70
Humulin R
Supply issues. Section 29A alternates were listed from 1 October 2026 for the following:
Fluconazole 150 mg capsule
From 1 October 2026, Pharmac has listed (funded) an alternate brand APO Health Fluconazole One.
Sildenafil 25mg tablets (Vedafil)
From 1 October 2026, Pharmac has listed (funded) an alternate brand Sildenafil (Crescent) tab 25 mg. Further information – Sildenafil (Vedafil) 25 and 50 mg tablets: Supply issue
All strengths of ezetimibe with simvastatin (Zimybe) combination tablets
From 1 October 2026, Pharmac has funded Vytorin brand in the 10 mg/10 mg strength, Ezetimibe Simvastatin Viatris brand in the 10 mg/20 mg strength and Ascend brand in the 10 mg/40 mg strength. The Vytorin brand for the 10 mg/80 mg strength remains available. Further information Ezetimibe with simvastatin (Zimybe) all strengths: Supply issue
Risperidone 1mg tablet (Risperidone Teva)
From 1 October 2026, Pharmac has listed (funded) an alternate brand Risperidone Sandoz 1mg tablet.
Supply issue: Sumatriptan 50mg and 100mg tablets (Sumagran)
Pharmac has funded an alternative brand, Sumatriptan Viatris, from 1 October 2026.
The above alternate products are not Medsafe approved brands and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.
Resolved supply issues
Supply issues are marked as resolved when stock arrives in the country and is released to wholesalers. After this, it can take another 1-2 weeks for pharmacies to receive stock, depending on where they are located around New Zealand.
Atazanavir (Atazanavir Viatris) Cap 150 mg & Cap 200 mg
Calcitriol (Calcitriol-AFT) Cap 0.25 mcg
Calcitriol (Calcitriol-AFT) Cap 0.5 mcg
Chlortalidone (Hygroton) Tab 25 mg
Oestradiol (Estradot) patch 100 mcg
Glucose [Dextrose] () Inj 50%, 10 ml ampoule (Biomed)
Hydrocortisone (Noumed) Crm 1%
Methylphenidate hydrochloride (Concerta ) Tab extended-release 18 mg
Methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin LA) Tab extended release
Rivastigmine (Rivastigmine BNM) Patch 4.6 mg per 24 hour
Sodium cromoglicate (Ralicrom) Cap 100 mg (Douglas)
Sodium Fusidate [fusidic acid] (Foban) Oint 2%
Testosterone undecanoate (Steril-Gene) Cap 40 mg
