FDA Reminder About Emergency Compounding of Tamiflu for Oral Suspension

January 27, 2011 11:53 AM Topics: Compounding

The FDA has added Tamiflu^® for Oral Suspension 12 mg/ml 25 ml (National Drug Code 00004-0810-95) to its current list of drug shortages, and reminds health care providers about instructions for emergency compounding of Tamiflu 75 mg capsules. While FDA reports that supplies of the drug remain in distribution at wholesalers and pharmacies, the manufacturer, Genentech, has Tamiflu for Oral Suspension on backorder. FDA also notes that Tamiflu 75 mg, 45 mg, and 30 mg capsules remain available. For those patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules, the contents can be mixed into sweetened liquids, such as chocolate syrup, as directed by a health care provider.

FDA reminds health care providers that if there is difficulty locating commercial Tamiflu for Oral Suspension, FDA-approved instructions for the emergency compounding of an oral suspension from Tamiflu 75 mg capsules are included in the Tamiflu package insert. Instructions are also available on the Tamiflu Web site.

More information about the shortage is available on the “Current Drug Shortages” page on the FDA Web site.