Oxycodone oral liquid: Supply issue resolved

Affected product

Oxycodone hydrochloride

• Presentation: Oral liq 1 mg per ml
• Brand: Oxycodone Lucis S29
• Pharmacode: 2678500 
• Subsidy: $37.08
• Measure / Qty: per 250 ml
• Unapproved medicine supplied under Section 29 and wastage applies.

This issue only affects the oral liquid presentation of oxycodone. All other funded presentations remain available.

Resolved November 2024

The supplier advised that stock was distributed from late October 2024. It will have taken another one to two weeks for the stock to reach pharmacies around the motu. 

Alternatives

We asked that the oxycodone was prioritised for people who cannot take morphine.

Clinicians needed to decide from the available options what the most suitable alternative was for their patient. We  advised that all other funded presentations of oxycodone were available and stock of the morphine oral liquid 1 mg per ml is available. 

• If you cannot source oxycodone oral liquid, Amneal oxycodone tablets can be dispersed in water.
• People will need a new prescription for oxycodone tablets.
• Please include dispersing instructions on the label if appropriate.
• 1 Amneal Oxycodone tablet can be dispersed in 6 – 7 ml of water and consumed immediately. Discard any remainder.

Review prescribing practice

We have received clinical advice that it may be appropriate for clinicians to review their prescribing practice around opioids. 

Revisiting opioid use in New Zealand: how does your prescribing compare? BPACnz(external link)

People who to take oral liquid oxycodone

If you cannot access oral liquid oxycodone, you will need to talk to the person who prescribed it for you. They will need to look at the available alternatives and consider what will work best for you. 

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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