As communicated in January 2021, the supplier of the Adalat brand of nifedipine tab long acting 10mg, 30 mg and 60 mg has discontinued the Adalat brand. The stock was exhausted in January 2021. It was delisted on 1 August 2021.
Alternative brands of nifedipine, Tensipine MR 10 and Mylan nifedipine have been sourced and supplied since January 2021.
Alternative brands of nifedipine
Pharmac sourced alternative supply of nifedipine 10 mg, 30 mg, and 60 mg.
We listed a second alternative Mylan brand on 1 October 2021.
New 30 mg brand
- Brand: Mylan Italy (24 hr release)
- Presentation: 30 mg
- Listed: 1 October 2021
- Pharmacode: 2618028
Current 30 mg brand
- Brand: Mylan nifedipine
- Pharmacodes: 30 mg 2602911
60 mg presentation
- Brand: Mylan nifedipine
- Pharmacodes 2602938
Dosing regimen
The dosing regimen of Mylan brand nifedipine 30mg and 60mg long-acting remains once per day, the same as Adalat Oros 30mg and 60mg.
10 mg presentation
- Brand: Tensipine nifedipine
- Pharmacode: 2603217
The Mylan and Tensipine brands are unapproved medicines in New Zealand so they must be prescribed and supplied in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981.
Information for people taking nifedipine
You will still be able to access nifedipine. We have made alternative brands available. They are Mylan nifedipine and Tensipine nifedipine.
You should talk to your health care professional about what the change in brands means for you.
Check with your pharmacist about whether you should be taking nifedipine once or twice a day.
Please note, these alternatives are not approved by Medsafe.
Learn more about taking an unapproved medicine – Health Navigator website(external link)
Information for prescribers and pharmacists
We have listed alternative brands for all presentations of nifedipine. None of these brands are Medsafe-approved.
Nifedipine is available as:
- twice daily long-acting tablets (10 mg and 20 mg)
- once daily long-acting tablets (30 mg and 60 mg).
Dosing regimen
The change in brand has not changed the dosing regimen.
- the Mylan brand 20 mg is a twice daily dose, the same as the Nyefax Retard brand
- the Mylan brand 30 mg and 60 mg are a once a day dose, the same as the Adalat brand.
Read more about prescribing nifedipine on New Zealand Formulary(external link)
The Mylan and Tensipine brands are not registered in New Zealand. They must be prescribed and supplied in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981.
We know a section 29 medicine is not ideal because only medical practitioners can prescribe it. Section 29 supply was the only option. Using these unapproved brands ensures patients can continue to access funded nifedipine.
Read the Medsafe website for more information about your obligations under section 29.
Information for prescribers and pharmacists about section 29 on Medsafe’s website(external link)
Information for consumers about section 29 on Health Navigator website(external link)
