Medicine Supply Notification: Oxycodone Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Oxycodone Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution.

MSN/2023/042

Tier 2 – medium impact

Date of issue 6th April 2023

  • Wockhardt is out of stock oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution until end of June 2023.
  • Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution from other manufacturers remains available but will not be able to support increased demand.
  • Oxycodone 5mg and 10mg immediate release capsules remain available.
  • Other liquid formulations of opioids, such as morphine, remain available.
  • A number of Specials manufacturers are able to produce unlicensed oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral suspension (including sugar free formulations).
  • Where the above options are not suitable, unlicensed supplies of oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution may be sourced, lead times vary.

Unlicensed imports

The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):

• The following Specials manufacturers have currently confirmed they can manufacturer oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral suspension (please note, there may be other companies that can also manufacture):

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 Oxycodone Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ Oxycodone Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution (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.

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