Medicine Supply Notification: Promethazine hydrochloride (Phenergan® elixir) 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Promethazine hydrochloride (Phenergan® elixir) 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free.
MSN/2023/015
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 15th February 2023
- Promethazine hydrochloride (Phenergan® elixir) 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free is out of stock until mid-April 2023.
- Promethazine hydrochloride 10mg and 25mg tablets remain available and can support an uplift in demand.
- Alternative sedating antihistamines available as a liquid formulation remain available. Where these are not suitable, unlicensed promethazine oral solution and suspension are available from Specials manufacturers, lead times vary.
The following Specials manufacturers have confirmed they can manufacture unlicensed promethazine 5mg/5ml oral solution or suspension (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 unlicensed promethazine 5mg/5ml oral solution or suspension cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘promethazine 5mg/5ml oral solution or suspension (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.
