Paracetamol (intravenous (IV) solution) 10 mg / ml 100 ml vial: Hospital supply issue
Fresenius Kabi, the supplier of IV paracetamol solution for injection/infusion 10 mg per ml 100 ml vial, has advised Pharmac that it is out of stock of the glass vials due to a delay with manufacturing.
5 September 2024 – Update
Fresenius Kabi advises that resupply of the New Zealand stock has been delayed until October 2024. A UK labelled product is being supplied.
Affected product
Fresenius Kabi, the supplier of IV paracetamol solution for injection/infusion 10 mg per ml 100 ml vial, has advised Pharmac that it is facing supply constraint due to a delay with manufacturing. This is having a global impact, with Australia affected too.
- Chemical: paracetamol
- Presentation: intravenous (IV) solution for injection/infusion
- Strength: 10 mg per ml, 100 ml vials
- Brand: Kabi
- Pharmacode: 2523965
Paracetamol Kabi schedule listing(external link)
Please note that IV paracetamol solution for injection/infusion 10 mg per ml, 100 ml vials is a hospital only medicine.
Unaffected products
All other presentations of paracetamol (500 mg tablets, 125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg suppositories, and oral liquid 120 mg and 250 mg per ml) are not affected by this supply issue.
Clinicians will need to decide on the appropriate treatment course for their patients.
Supply of IV paracetamol solution
Fresenius Kabi expects to return to normal supply in October 2024.
Fresenius Kabi has been supplying IV paracetamol in 10 mg per ml, 100 ml bags, in place of the vials. The bags have been on allocation to ensure a fair distribution around the motu.
Alternative in vials
Fresenius Kabi has some stock arriving from overseas sources that are in glass vials. They have received a Medsafe exemption for a batch from the UK. The paracetamol is manufactured in the same facility and is the same formulation as the New Zealand stock.
Letter that will accompany the stock with more information [PDF, 114 KB]
Health care professionals are advised to disregard the restriction for patient body weight and instead refer to the New Zealand Medsafe datasheet for indications and method of administration.
Medsafe datasheet for intravenous paracetamol [PDF](external link)
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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