Naltrexone tab 50 mg: Your brand is changing

Last Updated: 12 October 2026

Section 29A Brand change Active

After 1 November 2026, your brand of naltrexone will change to Naltrexone Lupin.

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What's changing

Pharmac has decided to change the funded brand of naltrexone tablets. It's changing from Naltraccord to Naltrexone Lupin.

Supplies of Naltraccord may run out before Naltrexone Lupin is funded on 1 November. To make sure you can continue to access treatment, we funded an alternative (Naltrexone GH) from 1 September 2026.

The tablets of Naltrexone Lupin are identical to the Naltrexone GH tablets, the only difference is the packaging.

All three brands contain the same amount of the active ingredient, naltrexone. They are designed to work in your body the same way. You should not notice any difference between the brands.

What to expect

Between now and 1 November you may be dispensed either Naltraccord or Naltrexone GH. Sometime after 1 November 2026, you will be dispensed Naltrexone Lupin for the first time and that will be your new funded brand.

Different look, same treatment

The Naltrexone Lupin and Naltrexone GH tablets are the same. They are beige, film-coated, capsule-shaped, with a score on each side.

The Naltraccord tablets are pale yellow and have a similar capsule shape.

Both tablets are about the same size.

After 1 November 2026, your brand will change from Naltraccord or Naltrexone GH to Naltrexone Lupin

About Naltrexone GH

Pharmac funded an unapproved brand of naltrexone medicine to ensure people can continue to access this treatment. This medicine is from Lupin. It is used in Australia.

Presentation: Tab 50 mg
Brand: Naltrexone-GH S29
Pharmacode: 2692961
Subsidy: $106.45
Measure / Qty: per 30

Same active ingredient in the same quantity

Naltrexone-GH has the same amount of active ingredient as your usual brand, Naltraccord. Naltrexone-GH is designed to work in your body the same way.

Medicine not Medsafe reviewed

This medicine has not been reviewed by Medsafe for use in New Zealand. However, it is used in Australia. Your prescriber will discuss this with you before they prescribe it. You can read more information about unapproved medicine on the Healthify website.

Unapproved medicines | Healthify.nz(external link)

Prescribing and supplying an unapproved medicine

Section 29A of the Medicines Act 1981 allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be prescribed and supplied to people when there is supply issue affecting the registered brand.

We know supplying an unapproved medicine is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow people to continue to access an appropriate treatment.

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

Prescriber and pharmacist requirements for section 29 and 29A medicines – Medsafe website(external link)

Why is this happening

This is a tender brand change. Every year, Pharmac runs a tender process to create competition among suppliers to supply many medicines used by New Zealanders.

The tender helps Pharmac manage the costs of medicines. Any savings we make are returned to the medicines budget to help pay for new medicines.

Your brand change is helping fund more medicines for more New Zealanders.

Information for pharmacists

Funding details for all three brands of naltrexone 50 mg tablets.

Brand	Naltraccord	Naltrexone GH	Naltrexone Lupin
Listing date	n/a	1 September 2026	1 November 2026
Delisting date	1 April 2027	1 April 2027	n/a
Pharmacode	2380374	2692961	2733307
Subsidy	$83.33	$106.45	$69.03
Quantity/measure	per 30	per 30	per 30
Other info	Medsafe approved	Section 29A	Medsafe approved

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.