Hypovase (prazosin) 500 microgram tablets, manufactured by drug major Pfizer, will remain out of stock until mid-January 2022 due to a manufacturing issue.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England and Improvement (NHSE&I) have issued a supply disruption alert for the medicine that is used to treat heart-related troubles.
Pfizer, the sole supplier of prazosin 500mg tablets in the UK, is out of stock from late November 2021, and had discontinued the Hypovase® (prazosin) 1mg tablets in May 2021.
Advice for healthcare professionals
In the given situation, prescribers need to review all affected patients to discuss management plans.
Meanwhile, alternative medicine alpha blockers remain available to support an uplift in demand.
Unlicensed supplies of prazosin 500 microgram tablets have also been sourced and may be considered where the alternative medicine is inappropriate.
In case a prescriber wishes to prescribe an unlicensed import, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘prazosin 500 microgram tablets (Special Order)‘ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special.
