Levomepromazine (Nozinan) Injections: Supply issue resolved

Last Updated: 2 November 2022

The supplier there was a brief out of stock of levomepromazine. The new supplier, Max Health, is now supplying the Wockhardt brand (pharmacode 2501902).

2 November 2022: New supplier listed from 1 November.

Affected product

There was an out of stock of the previous funded brand of levomepromazine hydrochloride (Nozinan) Inj 25 mg per ml, 1 ml ampoule (Pharmacode 549142).

Schedule listing for Nozinan(external link)

New supplier

From 1 November 2022, Max Health is the new funded brand of levomepromazine. Check the formulation to ensure dosage is correct. We are advised that the product is the same as the original New Zealand Nozinan.

Medsafe datasheet for the Max Health product [PDF](external link)

Alternative products

Pharmac listed two alternative brands during the out of stock, Neuraxpharm and Nozinan s 29. Neither were Medsafe approved and needed to be supplied under section 29 of the Medicines Act.

Schedule listing for levomepromazine hydrochloride(external link)

(external link)Both listings will remain on the Schedule in the meantime for charging purposes.

Formulation difference

It has been brought to our attention that the recently listed unapproved levomepromazine hydrochloride’s (brand name Nozinan S29 and Neuraxpharm) have the European formulations which is slightly different to the New Zealand formulation for the registered brand (Nozinan).

The New Zealand and unapproved versions of Nozinan Injection contain the same active ingredient; however, the products differ in strength

	NZ FORMULATION	GERMAN FORMULATION (unapproved) 2640457	FRENCH FORMULATION (unapproved) 2642840
	Nozinan 25 mg/mL injection	Neuraxpharm 25 mg/mL Solution for Injection in Ampoule (IM)	Nozinan S29 25 mg/mL Solution for Injection in Ampoule (IM)
Active ingredient	levomepromazine base 22.5 mg/mL (as levomepromazine hydrochloride 25mg/mL)	levomepromazine base 25.00 mg/mL (as levomepromazine hydrochloride 27.8 mg/mL)	levomepromazine base 25.00 mg/mL (as levomepromazine hydrochloride 27.78 mg/mL)
Excipients	Ascorbic acid Sodium sulphite Sodium chloride Water for injections	Ascorbic acid sodium hydroxide Sodium chloride Water for injections	Ascorbic acid Sodium sulphite Sodium chloride Water for injections
Pack size	10 x 1 mL ampoules	5 x 1 mL ampoules	5 x 1 mL ampoules

The French and German formulations contain approximately 11% more levomepromazine base than the New Zealand formulation
Doses may need to be adjusted when changing to the French or German product
Patients will need to be closely monitored to check if further dosage adjustment is necessary

Who to contact

If you have questions about funding other alternative products, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

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

2020 Tablet supply issue

In order to ensure on-going supply of Nozinan, the supplier (Sanofi) sourced Nozinan made for the Swiss market. These were available in the Schedule from 1 March 2020.

There is a difference in the active ingredient strength. 1.5 x Swiss Nozinan tablets ≈ 2 x NZ Nozinan tablets.

Levomepromazine

Tab 25 mg as a maleate – Nozinan (NZ)
Tab 25 mg (33.8 mg as a maleate) – Nozinan (Swiss)
Tab 100 mg as a maleate – Nozinan (NZ)
Tab 100 mg (135 mg as a maleate) – Nozinan (Swiss)

Who to contact

If you have questions, contact Sanofi on:

0800 283 684 (option 2) for medical Information
0800 726 634 for supply questions