Medicine Supply Notification: Bisacodyl (Dulcolax®) 5mg suppositories
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Bisacodyl (Dulcolax®) 5mg suppositories.
MSN/2023/099
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 23rd October 2023
- Bisacodyl (Dulcolax®) 5mg suppositories are out of stock until w/c 18th December 2023.
- Glycerol 2g (children’s size) suppositories remain available but are unable to support any increased demand.
- Relaxit enemas are out of stock without a current resupply date.
- Micralax micro enemas remain available but can only partially support any uplift in demand.
- Unlicensed supplies of bisacodyl 5mg suppositories from special-order manufacturers may be sourced, lead times vary.
Unlicensed products
The following special-order manufacturers have currently confirmed they can manufacture bisacodyl 5mg suppositories (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):
If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the imported product for prescribers to select using their prescribing systems an EPS prescription for the unlicensed product cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘Bisacodyl 5mg suppositories. (Special Order)’ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special with the following information:
- Amount dispensed over pack size used;
- Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
- Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA licence number;
- Batch number of the product supplied;
- SP
A copy of this medicine supply notification, including further information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.
DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.
The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.
To access the Tool you will need an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.
New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.
