Medicine Supply Notification: Alendronic acid 70mg tablets
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Alendronic acid 70mg tablets.
MSN/2022/062
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 14th July 2022
- Alendronic acid 70mg tablets are out of stock until late-August 2022.
- Risedronate sodium 35mg tablets (weekly) and ibandronic acid 150mg tablets (monthly) remain available. Where these are not suitable, unlicensed supplies of alendronic acid 70mg tablets may be sourced, lead times vary.
The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed alendronic acid 70mg tablets (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):
If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the imported product for prescribers to select using their prescribing systems an EPS prescription for unlicensed Alendronic acid 70mg tablets cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe an unlicensed import, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ Alendronic acid 70mg tablets (Special Order)‘ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special with the following information:
- Amount dispensed over pack size used;
- Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
- Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA licence number;
- Batch number of the product supplied;
- SP
A copy of this medicine supply notification, including further information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.
DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.
The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.
To access the Tool you will need an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.
New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.
