Apotex medicines in New Zealand

Last Updated: 16 October 2020

Supply issue Active

Apotex has announced that it is leaving the New Zealand market.

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Apotex has announced that it is leaving the New Zealand market.

Apotex make generic medicines. There are other manufacturers that also make most of the generic medicines Apotex currently supplies. PHARMAC is working with these suppliers to ensure New Zealanders can continue to access the medicines they need.

What will happen to my medicine?

Most likely, your medicine will still be available. But you might need to use a different brand.

If PHARMAC can’t get a different brand of your existing medicine, you will need to talk to your doctor about moving to a suitable alternative treatment.

As we find replacements, we’ll let doctors and pharmacists know. We’ll also put information for you on our website.

We know that changing your medicine can be disruptive. We’re working hard to keep this to a minimum. Thank you for your understanding.

What PHARMAC is doing

We have already found alternatives for some medicines. PHARMAC has also asked suppliers whether they can supply another brand for each of the Apotex medicines.

We’re currently reviewing their responses. We will then make plans to help people move to a new brand or new medicine.

PHARMAC makes these types of changes to medicines quite commonly. All changes will be communicated to your doctor and pharmacist. We’ll also have information for you on our website.

What are the affected medicines

Most Apotex medicines will continue to be available until 2021. For some, we already have replacement plans underway.

2020

Chemical	Brand	Presentation	Pharmacode	Replacement
Amlodipine	Apo-Amlodipine	Tab 2.5 mg	2352486	Brand: Vasorex Supplier: Rex Medical
Read about the brand changes for amlodipine		Tab 10 mg	2384043	Brand: Vasorex Supplier: Rex Medical
		Tab 5 mg	2384027	Brand: Vasorex Supplier: Rex Medical
Nicotinic acid	Apo-Nicotinic Acid	Tab 50 mg	304247	None
Read the discontinuation notice		Tab 500 mg	407860	None
Pravastatin	Apo-Pravastatin	Tab 40 mg	2525984	Brand: Pravastatin Mylan Supplier: Mylan
		Tab 20 mg	2525976	Brand: Pravastatin Mylan Supplier: Mylan
Terazosin	Apo-Terazosin	Tab 2 mg	2265354	None
Read the discontinuation notice		Tab 5 mg	2265346	None

First half of 2021

Chemical	Brand	Presentation	Pharmacode	Replacement
Bromocriptine mesylate	Apo-Bromocriptine	Tab 2.5 mg	793086	TBC
Escitalopram	Escitalopram-Apotex	Tab 10 mg	2522241	TBC
		Tab 20 mg	2522268	TBC
Perindopril	Apo-Perindopril	Tab 2 mg	2437147	TBC
		Tab 4 mg	2437155	TBC
Prednisone	Apo-Prednisone	Tab 2.5 mg	695459	TBC
Timolol	Apo-Timol	Tab 10 mg	750727	TBC

Late 2021

Chemical	Brand	Presentation	Pharmacode	Replacement
Azithromycin	Apo-Azithromycin	Tab 500 mg	2405318	TBC
		Tab 250 mg	2405296	TBC
Ciclopirox olamine	Apo-Ciclopirox	Nail-soln 8%	2401797	TBC
Clarithromycin	Apo-Clarithromycin	Tab 500 mg	2385511	TBC
		Tab 250 mg	2385503	TBC
Clomipramine hydrochloride	Apo-Clomipramine	Tab 25 mg	2289830	TBC
Read about the changes to clomipramine		Tab 10 mg	2289822	TBC
Deferiprone	Ferriprox	Oral liq 100 mg per 1 ml	2369524	Brand: Ferriprox Supplier: Chiesi
		Tab 500 mg	2369532	Brand: Ferriprox Supplier: Chiesi
Diclofenac sodium	Apo-Diclo SR	Tab long-acting 100 mg	2025760	TBC
		Tab long-acting 75 mg	2025752	TBC
Diltiazem hydrochloride	Apo-Diltiazem CD	Cap long-acting 240 mg	2401827	TBC
		Cap long-acting 120 mg	2401800	TBC
		Cap long-acting 180 mg	2401819	TBC
Doxazosin	Apo-Doxazosin	Tab 2 mg	2261502	TBC
		Tab 4 mg	2261510	TBC
Folic acid	Apo-Folic Acid	Tab 5 mg	304131	TBC
		Tab 0.8 mg	2025736	TBC
Furosemide [Frusemide]	Apo-Furosemide	Tab 40 mg	2565781	TBC
Gabapentin	Apo-Gabapentin	Cap 100 mg	2540754	TBC
		Cap 300 mg	2540762	TBC
		Cap 400 mg	2540770	TBC
Megestrol acetate	Apo-Megestrol	Tab 160 mg	2261499	TBC
Metformin hydrochloride	Apotex	Tab immediate-release 500 mg	2400995	TBC
		Tab immediate-release 850 mg	2401002	TBC
Metoprolol tartrate	Apo-Metoprolol	Tab 100 mg	2499754	TBC
		Tab 50 mg	2499746	TBC
Mirtazapine	Apo-Mirtazapine	Tab 30 mg	2486164	TBC
		Tab 45 mg	2486172	TBC
Nadolol	Apo-Nadolol	Tab 40 mg	787493	TBC
		Tab 80 mg	787515	TBC
Oxybutynin	Apo-Oxybutynin	Oral liq 5 mg per 5 ml	340413	TBC
		Tab 5 mg	2110431	TBC
Pindolol	Apo-Pindolol	Tab 10 mg	748358	TBC
		Tab 15 mg	748374	TBC
		Tab 5 mg	748366	TBC
Prazosin	Apo-Prazosin	Tab 2 mg	2453398	TBC
		Tab 1 mg	2453371	TBC
		Tab 5 mg	2453401	TBC
Prednisone	Apo-Prednisone	Tab 20 mg	374466	TBC
		Tab 1 mg	665762	TBC
		Tab 5 mg	304328	TBC
		Tab 2.5 mg	695459	TBC
Primidone	Apo-Primidone	Tab 250 mg	2049015	TBC
Propranolol	Apo-Propranolol	Tab 10 mg	2525941	TBC
		Tab 40 mg	2525968	TBC
Pyridoxine hydrochloride	Apo-Pyridoxine	Tab 50 mg	304379	TBC
Selegiline	Apo-Selegiline	Tab 5 mg	2374420	TBC
Sumatriptan	Apo-Sumatriptan	Tab 100 mg	2519631	TBC
		Tab 50 mg	2519623	TBC