Medicine Supply Notification: Methadone 5mg tablets
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Methadone 5mg tablets.
MSN/2024/011
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 29th January 2024
- Methadone 5mg tablets are out of stock until late May 2024.
- Supplies will remain available in hospitals throughout this period.
- Methadone 1mg/ml oral solution (with/without sugar) remains available and can support increased demand.
- Unlicensed imports of methadone 5mg tablets may be sourced, lead times vary.
Unlicensed products
The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed supplies of methadone 5mg tablets (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies)
If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the unlicensed 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 Methadone 5mg 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.
