Medicine Supply Notification: Lamotrigine 5mg dispersible tablets
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Lamotrigine 5mg dispersible tablets.
MSN/2023/100
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 24th October 2023
- Generic lamotrigine 5mg dispersible tablets are out of stock until mid-February 2024.
- Branded lamotrigine (Lamictal®) 2mg and 5mg dispersible tablets remain available but cannot fully support the gap in the market.
- A number of Specials manufacturers are able to produce unlicensed lamotrigine 5mg/5ml and 25mg/5ml oral suspension (including sugar-free formulations)
- Where the above options are not suitable, unlicensed supplies of lamotrigine (Lamictal®) 5mg dispersible tablets may be sourced, lead times vary.
Unlicensed products
The following Specials manufacturers have currently confirmed they can manufacturer lamotrigine 5mg/5ml and 25mg/5ml oral suspension (please note, there may be other companies that can also manufacture):
The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed lamotrigine 5mg dispersible/chewable tablets (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 ‘Lamotrigine suspension or tablets. (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.
