Ipratropium bromide (Univent) Aqueous nasal spray: Supply issue resolved
Rex Medical, the supplier, advises that the Univent aqueous nasal spray (2372908) is back in stock.
14 January 2025 update: Resupply end of January 2025
The supplier has changed manufacturing plant. This meant new batches of Univent nasal spray had to be made and tested by laboratories to ensure it met standards of quality, safety, and efficacy. Medsafe has reviewed this data and approved the Rex Medical product.
Rex Medical aims to have the product sent to wholesalers by Friday 17 January 2025. It can take another 2 to 3 weeks for the product to reach pharmacies around the motu.
Affected product
- Chemical: Ipratropium bromide
- Presentation: Aqueous nasal spray, 0.03%
- Brand: Univent
- Pharmacode: 2372908
- Subsidy: $5.23
- Measure / Qty: per 15 ml OP
Schedule listing for ipratropium bromide(external link)
Alternative product
There is a funded alternative available. We have advice from the supplier that there is enough stock for people to move to this treatment.
Budesonide
- Brand: Steroclear
- Presentation: Metered aqueous nasal spray, 50 mcg per dose
- Pharmacode: 2541149
- Subsidy: $2.54
- Measure/Qty: per 200 dose OP
- Schedule listing for Steroclear(external link)
People will need a new prescription
As this alternative is a different medicine, patients will require a new prescription to access. Pharmac understands this will create challenges for some patients and apologises for the inconvenience caused.
Resupplied January 2025
The supplier of Univent advises that stock has arrived. It can take another two to three weeks for stock to reach pharmacies.
Who to contact
If you have questions about the alternatives or anything else 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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