Supply Disruption Alert: Hypovase® (prazosin) 500microgram tablets (Pfizer)

Issue date: 25th November 2021

Alert reference: SDA/2021/015

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England and Improvement (NHSE&I) have issued a supply disruption alert for Hypovase® (prazosin) 500microgram tablets (Pfizer)

Pfizer are out of stock of Hypovase® (prazosin) 500 microgram tablets from late November 2021 until mid-January 2022 due to a manufacturing issue.

Hypovase® (prazosin) 1mg tablets were discontinued by Pfizer in May 2021.

Summary

  • Hypovase® (prazosin) 500 microgram tablets will be out of stock from late November 2021 until mid-January 2022. Pfizer are the sole supplier of prazosin 500 microgram tablets in the UK.
  • Prescribers will need to review all affected patients to discuss management plans.
  • Alternative alpha blockers remain available and can support an uplift in demand.
  • Unlicensed supplies of prazosin 500microgram tablets have been sourced and may be considered
    where the above option is inappropriate.

The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed prazosin 500 microgram tablets, please note there may be other companies that can also source this product.

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 prazosin 500 microgram tablets cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe an unlicensed import, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘prazosin 500 microgram 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

View the full supply disruption alert here.