The National Medicines Safety Agency has launched a series of measures to overcome “strong supply tensions” in Quétiapine, a current antipsychotic.
- Quétiapine, a key antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, faces a shortage in France due to production problems.
- The ANSM asks doctors to limit new prescriptions and encourage alternatives. Solutions are studied, including the import of forms not marketed in France and European aid.
- Pharmacists must inform and direct patients to their doctor in case of unavailability. Patients are invited to get closer to their general practitioner.
Quétiapine, an antipsychotic largely prescribed in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and major depression, is currently confronted with “Strong supply tensions” In France. This was announced by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) Thursday, January 30, in a press release. A critical situation that touches “All dosages” Available from the prolonged release form (LP), the only marketed in France. Nearly three million Quetiapine boxes were issued in 2023.
Medicines production problems
The manufacturer Pharmathen International, which provides Quetiapine (sold in France under the name Xeroquel) for several laboratories, encounters production difficulties. Consequently, the drug agency asks doctors to no longer initiate treatment with Quétiapine LP, except in cases of characterized depressive episodes linked to a bipolar disorder. For all other indications, alternative treatments must be considered, indicates the ANSM, offering a list of recommendations depending on the troubles.
“Today, the quetiapine supply is completely stopped throughout France, and stocks in pharmacies are everywhere exhausted or in the process of beingwritten on his blog Professor Antoine Pelissolo, psychiatrist at Public Assistance-Hospitals in Paris, at Henri-Mondor Hospital, who was the first to ring the alert on Tuesday. However, this medication should not be interrupted suddenly, at the risk of side effects and especially potentially serious relapses. ” This shortage would endanger some 200,000 patients, specifies the weekly The point.
What solutions to overcome the shortage?
Faced with this situation, several measures have been put in place. The laboratories concerned are currently asked to import medicines from Quetiapine to immediate liberation (LI) into France. ANSM also explores the possibility, for pharmacies, “Make masterful preparations” Quétiapine Li, an extra solution that had already been implemented during the shortages of Amoxicillin and Flécaïnide in recent years. Finally, an appeal to the European voluntary solidarity mechanism has been launched so that other member states can support in the event of a prolonged shortage of stocks.
Health professionals are called upon to redouble vigilance. Pharmacists must inform patients of the situation and contact the prescribing doctor in the event of unavailability of the drug. For their part, the patients concerned are invited to get closer to their general practitioner in order to adapt their treatment.
