Methylphenidate ER tablets: Supply issue

Concerta brand supply status

There is pressure on the supply of Concerta. 

• 18 mg – supply is available
• 27 mg – supply is available
• 36 mg – supply is available
• 54 mg – is not available - the next shipment should be available for wholesalers to order in the first week of May 2024. Methylphenidate Teva - ER 54 mg is available. 

It may take time for supply to move through the supply chain to wholesalers. Pharmacies please talk to your wholesaler for more details on timings.

We are working closely with Janssen, the supplier of Concerta, to understand the supply outlook and any improvements in supply that can be made. 

Concerta Schedule listing(external link)

People who take Concerta 

Due to global supply problems with ADHD medicine, you may need to change from Concerta to Methylphenidate ER - Teva. Clinicians have advised us that it is safe to switch between these two brands. While we appreciate this may not be ideal, switching brand helps make sure you can continue to receive your medicine.  

You will not need a new prescription - your pharmacist should be able to make the change for you. There may be a delay if a new Special Authority has not been issued for you. Your pharmacist can explain what this means and how long any delay may be, because your prescriber will need to make a Special Authority application for you. Details for pharmacists and prescribers follows. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please speak directly with your pharmacist or prescriber.

You may have been changed to the Concerta brand recently due to a supply issue. If so, when you collect your next prescription, you will likely be returned to Methylphenidate ER - Teva.

We acknowledge that brand changes can sometimes cause concern and we appreciate your patience and understanding with this supply issue.

Pharmacists dispensing methylphenidate

With the pending shortfall of Concerta brand, you may need to dispense Methylphenidate ER - Teva to ensure people can continue to access their medicine. 

Please reassure people that clinical advice indicates that it is safe to switch between these two brands.

A brand switch fee applies from 1 April 2024 for people moving from Concerta to Methylphenidate ER - Teva. It will be removed on 1 August 2024. 

About brand switch fees

No new prescription or SA number needed

Rule 3.4.2 of the Pharmaceutical Rules, allows you to swap people from Concerta to Methylphenidate ER - Teva without a new prescription. The rule states: "When it is not practicable to dispense the requested presentation, a Pharmacist may alter the presentation of a Subsidised Community Pharmaceutical to another Subsidised presentation but may not alter the dose, frequency and/or total daily dose dispensed."

Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora has issued people with Concerta brand Special Authority numbers a new number for Methylphenidate ER - Teva. 

We have done our best to issue a Special Authority for everyone who needs one but we may have missed some people. If the person doesn't have a new SA number, their prescriber will need to complete a Special Authority application or renewal for Methylphenidate ER - Teva. 

Please move people back to Methylphenidate ER - Teva 

For people moved to the Concerta brand for the original supply issue, please move them back to Methylphenidate ER -Teva as soon as you can. Concerta stock is under constraint.

Thank you

We acknowledge the additional work that supply issues create for pharmacists. Thank you for your time and effort to support people through supply issues. 

Please email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz if there are any resources we could provide that would support your communication with patients.

Prescribers of methylphenidate

Please reassure people that clinical advice indicates that it is safe to switch between these two brands.

No new prescription or SA needed

Pharmacists can change people to the Methylphenidate ER - Teva on a prescription for the Concerta brand, Rule 3.4.2 of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora has issued everyone with a Concerta Special Authority with a Methylphenidate ER - Teva Special Authority number. While we've tried to issue a Special Authority for everyone who needs one, there's a chance you may still need to make a Special Authority application for Methylphenidate ER - Teva for people who were missed.

If you have any questions, please contact us.  

Thank you

We appreciate your support in helping manage this supply issue and ensuring access to methylphenidate is maintained for all those who have been affected.

Thank you for your time supporting this supply issue.

Background

There is global shortage of ADHD medicines.

In September 2023, the supplier, Teva, alerted Pharmac to a supply issue for all strengths of Methylphenidate ER - Teva brand extended release methylphenidate. This was due to a global increase in demand. To make sure people could continue to get methylphenidate, we made changes to Special Authorities so people could use the Concerta brand of extended release methylphenidate. 

In December 2023, we communicated about constraints on the supply of Concerta. On 1 March 2024, the changes to the Special Authority for Concerta were reversed to help with preserving the stock of Concerta for those who cannot use Methylphenidate ER - Teva.

There is now pressure on the supply of the Concerta brand. 

Who to contact

If you take methylphenidate, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about this supply issue.

If you have questions about the funding of methylphenidate, 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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