Carbamazepine (Tegretol) Tab 200 mg: Supply issue resolved

Due to a brief out of stock, your carbamazepine had different packaging.

Affected product

A shipment of New Zealand-packaged Tegretol brand carbamazepine (tab 200 mg) was delayed (Pharmacode 2291657).

Schedule listing for carbamazepine(external link)

This issue only affected the immediate release 200 mg tablets, other strengths and presentations remain available.

Alternative product

Novartis, the supplier, supplied some Australian stock to ensure people can continue to access this treatment. 

About Tegretol AU

Tegretol AU (Pharmacode 2681331) is the same medicine and is made at the same site as the New Zealand registered Tegretol 200 mg tablets. Tegretol AU has been granted Medsafe approval.

There has been no change to the Data Sheet or Consumer Medicines Information. You can continue to refer to the Tegretol Data Sheet | Medsafe website [PDF](external link) and Consumer Medicines Information | Medsafe website [PDF](external link).

Both boxes have a lot of solid yellow colour. The Australian box has a bit more text and a different distributor address. The NZ box has 200 in red..
Side-by-side comparison of the box packaging for Tegretol

Expected resupply 

Novartis, the supplier, expects the delayed shipment to arrive by the end of June 2024. It will take 1 to 2 weeks for the stock to make its way through the supply chain to pharmacies. 

Key dates

4 June 2024:  Novartis’s Australian-labelled carbamazepine (Tegretol) 200 mg tablets will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule

10 June 2024: stock of New Zealand labelled carbamazepine (Tegretol) 200 mg is expected to run out.

early July 2024: shipment of New Zealand labelled carbamazepine (Tegretol) 200 mg has arrived and been released to wholesalers.

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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