Medicine Supply Notification: Mesalazine (Asacol) 800mg MR gastro-resistant tablets

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Mesalazine (Asacol) 800mg MR gastro-resistant tablets

MSN/2021/049

Tier 2 – medium impact

Date of issue 6th October 2021

  • Asacol® 800mg MR gastro-resistant tablets are out of stock from early October 2021 with a resupply date to be confirmed.
  • Asacol® 400mg MR gastro-resistant tablets remain available but cannot support full demand for the Asacol® 800mg strength tablets.
  • Octasa® MR 400mg and 800mg tablets remain available and can support full demand for the Asacol® 800mg strength tablets
  • Other mesalazine tablet preparations, with different release characteristics, remain available should there be difficulties sourcing Octasa® MR tablets or Asacol® 400mg MR tablets.

A copy of this medicine supply notification has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.

The Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) website contains information on the differences between different brands of Mesalazine tablets.

The DHSC Medicine Supply Team provide a monthly update on potential supply issues affecting both primary and secondary care. This update is uploaded on the Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) website. To register, 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.