Community pharmacies have been given further warnings about medicines supply issues this month.

Community Pharmacy England published five supply notifications at the time of going to press from the Department of Health and Social Care in February relating to Formoterol, Co-trimoxazole, Oxcarbazepine 150mg and 300mg tablets, Nadolol 80mg tablets and Flixotide (fluticasone) 50 micrograms/dose Evohaler.

Formoterol (Oxis 6 Turbohaler) 6micrograms/dose dry powder inhalers are out of stock until the middle of next month but CPE said Formoterol (Oxis 12 Turbohaler) 12micrograms/dose dry powder inhalers "remain available and can support increased demand." 

Co-trimoxazole 40mg/200mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free is out of stock until early July 2024 while Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg/5ml oral suspension is out of stock until mid-March. CPE said Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg tablets and 160mg/800mg tablets "remain available and can support increased demand."

It also said unlicensed supplies of co-trimoxazole oral suspension may be sourced from Alium, Genetech, Orifarm, Smartway and Target Healthcare.

Oxcarbazepine 150mg tablets (Viatris) are out of stock until late next month and although Oxcarbazepine 150mg tablets (Trileptal) remain available, CPE said they “cannot support the full increase in demand.”

Oxcarbazepine 300mg tablets (Viatris) are out of stock until mid-February but Oxcarbazepine 300mg tablets (Morningside) are available “and can support increased demand.”

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 60mg/ml oral suspension are available but cannot support increased demand while unlicensed supplies of oxcarbazepine 150mg tablets and 60mg/ml oral suspension can be sourced although CPE said “lead times vary.”

It said Alium, Clinigen and Target Healthcare have confirmed they can source unlicensed oxcarbazepine 150mg tablets and 60mg/ml oral suspension.

Nadolol 80mg tablets are out of stock from early March until early May this year and CPE said Alium and Target Healthcare can source unlicensed supplies.

Flixotide (fluticasone) 50 micrograms/dose Evohaler is out of stock until early March, although Flixotide (fluticasone) 50 micrograms/dose Accuhaler is available “and can support a full uplift in demand.”

CPE also said Flixotide (fluticasone) 125 micrograms/dose Evohaler and 100 micrograms/dose Accuhaler “remain available and can support a full uplift in demand.”

“Where these are not suitable options, alternative corticosteroid inhalers, including beclomethasone 100 micrograms inhalers, are available,” pharmacy’s negotiator added.