Subutex and Suboxone tablets discontinued in UK
All strengths of Subutex and Suboxone tablets have been discontinued and are no longer available for community pharmacies to order, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has advised.
The manufacturer, Indivior, has stopped supplying the products in the UK. However, alternative branded and generic buprenorphine sublingual tablets remain available to replace Subutex, according to the Specialist Pharmacy Service.
These medicines are used for treating opioid dependence by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
CPE has advised pharmacy teams to contact the prescriber to request a replacement prescription if a branded script for Subutex has been issued.
Alternative treatment options may be required in place of Suboxone, and a new prescription should be requested.
CPE added that pharmacy teams should contact prescribers promptly if they are unable to dispense remaining instalments of Subutex or Suboxone on an FP10MDA instalment prescription, to ensure a replacement prescription can be issued in time for the rest of the treatment period.
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