Ipratropium bromide (Univent) Aqueous nasal spray: Supply issue resolved

Supply issue Active

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

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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