Di-Gesic supply warning
October 1, 2013
ASPEN Australia has advised
pharmacists that it is “unexpectedly
out of stock” of Di-Gesic
(dextroporopoxyphene HCI
32.5mg/paracetamol 325mg), and
it is not clear at this stage when
supply will resume.
It’s the latest twist in the
long-running saga which has
seen Aspen strenuously (and
successfully) appeal against a TGA
decision to cancel the registration
of medications containing
dextropropoxyphene (PD 16 Sep).
However Aspen says that the fact
that it is out of stock is not related
to the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal ruling in favour of keeping
dextropropoxyphene painkillers
on the ARTG made last month,
or to the consequential special
conditions relating to supply of Di-
Gesic which will come into effect in
ten days time.
In an update issued on Friday the
company said it believes that stock
of Di-Gesic may still be available at
pharmaceutical wholesalers and at
pharmacies.
To complicate matters further,
Aspen is also currently out of stock
of Doloxene (dextropropoxyphene
napsylate 100mg).
Both medications are subject
to new conditions under the AAT
ruling, which require prescribers
to provide a letter to pharmacists
confirming that they are aware that
the products are only approved
for patients who are not able to
be adequately treated with other
mild analgesics, and that they
have warned the patient about the
appropriate use of the product.
The AAT has also ordered regular
monitoring of pharmacists and
wholesalers to ensure that the
special conditions are being
complied with.
Aspen said it will separately
communicate details about the
special conditions to prescribers,
pharmacists and wholesalers as
soon as the conditions come into
effect, and well in advance of the
implementation of the scheme.
“Until the new conditions
are implemented, doctors may
continue to prescribe Di-Gesic
after carefully considering
the indications, warnings and
contraindications in the Product
Information and Consumer
Medicines Information,” the
company advised.
Pharmacists may dispense Di-
Gesic - where it is available - under
normal S4 dispensing practices.
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