Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 31 October 2025
- admin82291
- 4 hours ago
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Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 31 October 2025. It includes information on:
Supply issue: codeine phosphate tab all strengths
Noumed, the supplier of Codeine Phosphate tablets, has advised that the 30 mg presentation is currently out of stock. Limited stock remains of the 15 mg and 60 mg presentations. New stock will be available in the week commencing 17 November.
Noumed has stock of 15 mg tablets and 60 mg tablets in NZ that needs to be re-labelled to extend the expiry date as approved by Medsafe. This stock will be available once re-labelled.
Pharmac has provided letters of support to Noumed, the printers, customs and ports to help expedite over-labelling, printing of updated expiry labels and to support priority customs clearance. We will continue to provide updates – Codeine supply issue.
Supply issue update: oxycodone hydrochloride (Oxycodone Amneal) tab immediate release
Pharmac has been advised a delivery of Oxycodone Tab immediate release 5mg, 10mg & 20mg is in transit. Stock is expected to be distributed to wholesalers and pharmacies the week of the 3rd of November.
For patients who have been switched to Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral liquid due to the supply issue, please revert them back to a tablet formulation when able.
Supply issue: desmopressin acetate 10 microgram/dose (Desmopressin PH&T Nasal Spray 6ml)
AFT, the supplier of Desmopressin-PH&T Nasal Spray has advised there is low stock in New Zealand due to manufacturing delays and issues with the release of a recently arrived shipment. We are working closely with AFT to understand when supply of the nasal spray will be restored.
Other funded presentations of desmopressin are not affected by this supply issue and are shown on our website – Schedule online - desmopressin.
New listing: Methylphenidate Sandoz XR for ADHD and narcolepsy
Pharmac is funding a new brand of methylphenidate – Methylphenidate Sandoz XR – from 1 December 2025. It will be available in 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, and 54 mg strengths. Methylphenidate Sandoz XR will be funded alongside all other funded brands.
Methylphenidate Sandoz XR will have the same Special Authority criteria as Ritalin IR, Rubifen IR, Rubifen SR and Methylphenidate ER – Teva (SA2411 [PDF](external link)). This means it will be funded as a first line treatment option for people with ADHD or narcolepsy.
Methylphenidate Sandoz XR has been approved by Medsafe. Note Narcolepsy is not a Medsafe approved indication for Methylphenidate Sandoz XR.
See Medsafe guidance on Using caution if switching between long-acting methylphenidate products due to formulation differences.
See Medsafe guidance on Unapproved Use of Medicines when prescribing for narcolepsy.
This decision is part of our work to strengthen supply, provide more treatment options for people with ADHD and narcolepsy and prepare for the upcoming prescriber eligibility changes on 1 February 2026 for ADHD stimulant medicines.
More details are available on our website here: Decision to fund a new brand of methylphenidate hydrochloride.
Discontinuation: Nifedipine 10mg long-acting tablets (Tensipine MR10)
We expect stock of nifedipine 10mg long-acting tablets (Tensipine MR10) to run out in November 2025.
Prescribers need to transition all patients currently taking nifedipine 10mg long-acting tablets (Tensipine MR10) to alternative treatments. Alternative calcium channel blockers are available.
For pregnant women on Tensipine MR10, consider the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertension and Pre-eclampsia in Pregnancy in Aotearoa New Zealand Guidelines (Te Whatu Ora, 2022) for alternatives.
It is recommended to not divide the 20mg nifedipine MR (Tensipine MR20) tablet to get a 10mg dose. This may result in treatment-induced hypotension.
Pharmac Notification: Decision to change funded brand of fulvestrant injectionFrom 1 December 2025, Pharmac will be changing the funded brand of fulvestrant injection (50 mg per ml, 5 ml prefilled syringe), used to treat certain types of breast cancer.The funded brand will change from Faslodex (AstraZeneca) to Fulvestrant EVER Pharma (InterPharma).
Fulvestrant EVER Pharma will be listed from 1 December 2025.
Faslodex will be delisted on 1 May 2026.
Fulvestrant EVER Pharma will be awarded Principal Supply Status from 1 May 2026 to 30 June 2028.
The new brand, Fulvestrant EVER Pharma, is approved and widely used in Australia. It is Medsafe approved and meets internationally agreed standards for safety, quality, and efficacy. Fulvestrant EVER Pharma does not require refrigeration and can be stored at room temperature in its original packaging below 25oC until ready for use.
More information about this change is available here: Decision to brand change fulvestrant through the 2024/25 Invitation to Tender.
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.
Candesartan cilexetil (Candestar) Tab 32 mg
Chloramphenicol (Chlorafast) Eye drops 0.5%
Chloramphenicol (chlorsig) Eye drops 0.5% 10ml
Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Doxorubicin Ebewe) Inj 2 mg per ml, 25 ml vial
Irinotecan hydrochloride (Irinotecan Accord) Inj 20 mg per ml, 5 ml vial
Miconazole nitrate (Micreme) Vaginal crm 2% with applicator
Midazolam (Pfizer) Inj 1 mg per ml, 5 ml plastic ampoule
Rizatriptan (Rizamelt) Tab orodispersible 10 mg
