SSP046 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have issued a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free in response to a significant ongoing supply disruption due to the increase in Strep A infections.
The SSP will enable community pharmacies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to supply patients with a different antibiotic as per the document below.
Before supplying in accordance with this SSP, the pharmacist must consider if a suitable supply can be made in accordance with SSP041. Where it is not possible to utilise SSP041 and where phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free is not available and prescribed for a duration of no longer than 10 days, the following antibiotics, in order of decreasing preference, can be substituted depending on availability:
- Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension
- Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension
- Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Amoxicillin 250mg capsules
- Amoxicillin 500mg capsules
OR
- Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml oral solution
- Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution
- Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
- Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
- Flucloxacillin 250mg capsules
- Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules
OR (Broader spectrum antibiotics with increased risks of side effects and antimicrobial resistance – reserve for when alternatives unavailable.)
- Cefalexin 125mg/5ml oral suspension
- Cefalexin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Cefalexin 250mg/5ml oral suspension
- Cefalexin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Cefalexin 250mg capsules
- Cefalexin 250mg tablets
- Cefalexin 500mg capsules
- Cefalexin 500mg tablets
OR (Broader spectrum antibiotics with increased risks of side effects and antimicrobial resistance – reserve for when alternatives unavailable.)
- Co-amoxiclav 125mg/31mg/5ml oral suspension
- Co-amoxiclav 125mg/31mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension
- Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Co-amoxiclav 400mg/57mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Co-amoxiclav 250mg/125mg tablets
- Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets
For prescriptions for longer than 10 days, the preferred substitution is one of the following erythromycin formulations
- Erythromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension
- Erythromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Erythromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension
- Erythromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
- Erythromycin 250mg gastro-resistant tablets
- Erythromycin 250mg tablets
- Erythromycin 500mg tablets
The total quantity supplied in accordance with this protocol is to be equivalent to the number of days supplied on the original prescription. The quantity supplied may be different due to different dosing regimens for different antibiotics.
The pharmacist must exercise their professional judgement to ensure the alternative product is suitable for the patient. When the medicine is for a child and the pharmacist deems it appropriate to substitute to the tablet form in accordance with this SSP, patients/carers should be directed to the following guidance: Using solid oral dosage form antibiotics in children – SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service. Please note that use in this way may be outside the product licence.
When determining the dose of the alternative antibiotic to be supplied, where appropriate, pharmacists must take into account the body weight of babies and children as specified in Annex B and C of the SSP document. The pharmacist should confirm the patient’s weight with their parent/carer and refer to their personal child health record (‘red book’) where possible. If the prescribed phenoxymethylpenicillin dose is higher than the standard doses within Annex A of the SSP document, then the pharmacist should consult the prescriber to confirm the substitution and dosing requirement.
If an alternative antibiotic is supplied, pharmacists must notify the patient’s prescriber and/or GP practice within 24 hours.
SSP046 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free will be in operation from Friday 16th December 2022 to Friday 31st March 2023 (UPDATED EXPIRY DATE)
Please note that the SSP may be amended or revoked at any time, so contractors must ensure that the SSP is still valid before each supply.
SSP046 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free