Medicines Supply Notification

A Medicines Supply Notification (MSN) has been issued this week for Tegretol PR tablets. In summary:

• Tegretol 200mg prolonged release tablets are out of stock until mid-January 2024. Once back in stock, supplies will be able to support the shortage of Tegretol 400mg PR tablets
• Tegretol 400mg PR tablets remain available but cannot support an uplift in demand and will be out of stock from w/e 12th January until w/c 29th January 2024
• Tegretol immediate release (IR) tablets remain available and can support increased demand
• Curatil 200mg PR tablets remain available but can only support increased demand in secondary care

Where patients have insufficient supply of Tegretol 200mg PR tablets to last until the re-supply date, prescribers should be advised to:

• Advise patients taking both 200mg and 400mg ad who have enough to last to the end of the month, to use half a 400mg PR tablet to make up 200mg doses
• Consider prescribing Tegretol IR tablets, taking into account the total daily dose, as dose frequency for patients on high doses may need to be adjusted to accommodate the different release profile of IR tablets
• Seek advice from specialists on alternative management options

For the shortage of Tegretol 400mg PR tablets, prescribers should consider prescribing Tegretol 200mg PR tablets to make up the required dose when this is back in stock.

Supporting Clinical Information

Carbamazepine is an anti-epileptic drug. Different formulations of carbamazepine may vary in bioavailability and therefore patients should be monitored after any switch in brand for loss of seizure control and adverse effects.

Tegretol PR is administered at the same total daily dose as Tegretol IR forms. Tegretol PR tablets are usually administered in two doses (morning and evening) and Tegretol IR tablets are usually given in two or three divided doses.

Tegretol PR tablets are scored and are licensed to be halved.

The Full MSN can be viewed here:

• https://cpsc.org.uk/download_file/view/4342/2989