Calcium carbonate oral liq 250 mg per ml: Supply issue

Supply issue Active

Both brands of calcium carbonate oral liquid are affected by this supply issue.

19 May 2023

Onelink has advised Pharmac that they are out of stock of both calcium carbonate oral liquid products. Onelink cannot confirm a resupply date as they are having sourcing issues. 

Affected product

Pharmac is aware that there have been constraints getting oral liquids into New Zealand. We listed an alternative brand, Calcium Carbonate PAI, from 1 March 2023. 

We understand that shipments have been delayed for both presentations listed.

Chemical: Calcium carbonate

Presentation: oral liq 250 mg per ml (100 mg elemental per ml)

  • Brand: Roxane
  • Pharmacode: 2428407
  • Measure: per 500 ml
  • Brand: Calcium Carbonate PAI
  • Pharmacode: 2652935
  • Measure: per 473 ml

Expected resupply mid-May

Onelink have advised that they expected to have stock of the oral liquids by mid-May 2023. There may be a delay between resupply and product reaching pharmacies.

Alternative product

We have amended the endorsement criteria for calcium carbonate effervescent tablets 1.25 g(external link) (500 mg elemental) (pharmacode 2633817) to align with that of the oral liquids from 1 April 2023.

This will mean that patients for whom regular calcium carbonate tablets are inappropriate can receive the effervescent tablets if the prescription is endorsed accordingly. 

As this change was made out-of-cycle of the regular Schedule update process, this will not be visible in dispensing software.

Who to contact

If you have questions about this issue, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Please include as much information as you can about the product (presentation, brand, pharmacode) and who your wholesaler is.  

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