Salbutamol with ipratropium bromide (Duolin) nebuliser: Supply issue

Affected product

Rex Medical, the supplier, advises that the manufacturing site for Duolin nebuliser solution has temporarily halted production to facilitate annual validation. Rex Medical has moved production of this medicine to a second registered site. This has caused a delay in resupply.

• Chemical: Salbutamol with ipratropium bromide
• Presentation: Nebuliser soln, 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule - Up to 20 neb available on a PSO
• Brand: Duolin
• Pharmacode: 2039281

Schedule listings for Duolin(external link)

Alternative treatment

From 4 June 2024 the following will be listed in the Community Schedule. It will be listed from 1 July 2024 in the HML. Note the pack size is the same as the registered product.

• Chemical: Salbutamol with ipratropium bromide
• Presentation: Nebuliser soln, 2.5 mg with ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg per vial, 2.5 ml ampoule
• Brand: Duolin Cipla
• Pack Size: 20
• Subsidy (and price): $11.04  (ex-man., ex. GST)
• Pharmacode: 2680807

Information for pharmacists

This listing will not appear in the Online Schedule until it is updated for 1 July 2024.

• RxOne users: the changes will be automatically updated by RxOne from the effective date. 
• TONIQ users: the changes will automatically be updated in Toniq medicine databases from the effective date.

Please note that the Sector Operations Group will be able to process these claims in June 2024 in the normal claim cycle.

Expected resupply

We are working with the supplier to understand when the registered product can be supplied again.

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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