Hydrocortisone butyrate (Locoid products) 0.1%: Supply issue

Affected products

There may be a brief out of stock of the following products because of shipping delays: 

Chemical: Hydrocortisone butyrate

• Presentation: Milky emul 0.1%
• Brand: Locoid Crelo
• Pharmacode: 2017458 
• Subsidy: $12.33
• Measure / Qty: per 100 ml OP

• Presentation: Scalp lotn 0.1%
• Brand: Locoid
• Pharmacode: 210307
• Subsidy: $6.57
• Measure / Qty: per 100 ml OP

Schedule listing for hydrocortisone butyrate(external link)

Alternative products

Milky emulsion

The Locoid ointment is available and the cream is available again. We have been advised that these are a suitable alternative to the milky emulsion. 

Rule 3.4.2, allows pharmacists to dispense the ointment or cream presentation in place of the milky emulsion, so a new prescription should not be needed. 

Scalp application

There are other funded treatments, including other presentations of the same chemical or other scalp applications. Prescribers are best placed to advise on a suitable alternative. 

Schedule listings for other scalp applications(external link)

There are supply issues affecting related products.

Betamethasone valerate (Beta Scalp)

Resupply

The cream was resupplied early December 2024

The shipment has arrived and is available to order. It can take another 1 to 2 weeks for the product to reach pharmacies around the motu. 

The scalp application and milky emulsion are expected in January 2025

We are working with the supplier on more specific timing for the resupply of these products.

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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