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Originator: DHSC & NHS England and Improvement: Supply disruption alert

Issue date: 11-Oct-2021 13:03:46

This alert has been issued to:
  • Care Trusts
  • Mental Health Trusts
  • Specialists Trusts
  • NHS Regional Offices
  • Learning Disabilities Trusts
  • Mental Health & Social Care Trusts
  • Ambulance Trusts
  • Mental Health & Learning Disabilities Trusts
  • Acute Trusts
  • Community Trusts

  • MHRA (Medicines) Drug Alerts (Various Recipients)
  • Other contacts
  • Independent Healthcare Providers (registered with CAS)
  • Clinical Commissioning Groups
  • Ofsted recipients
  • Social Care Providers (registered with CAS)
  • MHRA (Medicines) Drug Alerts - Non-NHS Recipients
  • Territorial CMOs in Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales
  • Regional Directors of Public Health
  • Director of Public Health
  • GP - Locum
  • NHS 111 and Out of hours providers
  • GP Practices
  • DHSC Supply Disruption - Medicines
  • Community Pharmacy
  • Primary Care Networks
  • GP Practices 1

Action category: Action

Title: Diazepam RecTubes 2.5mg Rectal Solution - Supply Disruption

Broadcast content:
  • Diazepam RecTubes® 2.5mg have been discontinued in the UK and remaining supplies are expected to be exhausted by March 2022.
  • Diazepam RecTubes® are licensed in acute severe anxiety and agitation, epileptic and febrile convulsions, tetanus and as a sedative in minor surgical and dental procedures or in other circumstances where rapid effect is required and where intravenous injection is not appropriate.
  • Diazepam RecTubes® 2.5mg are mainly used in the management of status epilepticus and convulsions in neonates (off-label) to deliver doses of 1.25mg- 2.5mg doses and repeated if required.
  • Clinicians across healthcare settings should review all patients prescribed Diazepam RecTubes® 2.5mg and relevant local guidelines/ protocols which recommend the use of Diazepam RecTubes® 2.5mg to consider alternative preparations where appropriate.
  • Diazepam 5mg/ 2.5mL rectal solution remain available and can support an uplift in demand.
  • Alternative parenteral and non-parenteral preparations remain available. 

This alert contains further information and action for providers.

Please note that no response is required via the CAS website to this alert.


Additional information: NHS England and NHS Improvement Regional Offices: please cascade this alert to Community Pharmacy and Dental contractors.

Alert reference: SDA/2021/013

Attachments:

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Email: safetyalerts@mhra.gov.uk

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency