New pharmacy drug swap powers ‘could put patients at risk’
A serious shortage of metformin has triggered a new TGA rule that over-rides GP scripts
GPs have been caught on the hop by a landmark TGA decision permitting pharmacists to substitute metformin formulations and dosage strengths during the current supply crisis.
Shortages of multiple brands of modified-release metformin 500mg are expected to continue to December.
In response the regulator has stated that, until the end of July, pharmacists can swap a 500mg daily dose of modified-release metformin for the same dose of the immediate-release formulation.
And for patients on a 1500mg daily dose, pharmacists can supply metformin modified-release 1000mg plus 500mg of the immediate-release formulation in separate doses.
