H2-antagonists face supply disruption due to spike in demand

The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) has issued a medicine supply disruption notice for H2-antagonists- Cimetidine, Famotidine, and Nizatidine.

Suppliers of Cimetidine, Famotidine and Nizatidine have reported an increase in demand, which has contributed to short term shortages of Cimetidine 200mg tablets, Famotidine 20mg tablets, and Nizatidine 150mg and 300mg tablets, the DH said.

Here is the list of H2-antagonists which are facing supply disruption:

Target Healthcare, Durbin PLC, Mawdsley’s Unlicensed, and Alium Medical have informed that they can source unlicensed cimetidine 200mg, 400mg and 800mg tablets.

Ennogen has said that it can source unlicensed cimetidine 200mg and 400mg tablets.

The drug manufacturer Smartway Pharma and Waymade PLC have also informed that they are able to source unlicensed cimetidine 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 Cimetidine (strength) tablets cannot be issued.

Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe an unlicensed import, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘Cimetidine (strength) tablets (Special Order)‘ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special.