DHSC issues Medicine Supply Notification for Temazepam 10mg, 20mg tablets

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Temazepam 10mg and 20mg tablets.

“Temazepam 10mg and 20mg tablets are in limited supply until w/c 5th December 2022. Alternative benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics remain available and will be able to support increased demand,” said DHSC.

Temazepam 10mg/5ml oral solution remains available but cannot support an uplift in demand. DHSC suggested: “Where the above options are not suitable, unlicensed supplies of temazepam 10mg tablets may be sourced, lead times vary.”

The department confirmed that Target Healthcare, a specialist importers, have confirmed they can source unlicensed Temazepam 10mg tablets.

“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 Temazepam 10mg tablets cannot be issued.”

Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe an unlicensed import, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ Temazepam 10mg 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

DHSC and NHSE/I’s Medicines Supply Tool, provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.