Medicine Supply Notification: Paracetamol suppositories
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Paracetamol suppositories.
MSN/2023/062
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 29th June 2023
- Paracetamol 60mg suppositories are out of stock until w/c 1st April 2024
- Paracetamol 125mg suppositories are out of stock until October 2023.
- Paracetamol 240mg suppositories are out of stock until w/c 10th July 2023.
- Paracetamol 250mg suppositories will be out of stock from August 2023 until October 2023.
- Paracetamol 120mg suppositories remain available.
- Paracetamol 500mg and 1000mg suppositories (Typharm) remain available.
- Unlicensed supplies of paracetamol 60mg,80mg,125mg,240mg and 250mg suppositories may be sourced, lead times vary
Unlicensed imports
The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed suppositories (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):
60mg
80mg
125mg
240mg
250mg
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 unlicensed Paracetamol Xmg suppositories cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ Paracetamol Xmg 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.
