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Drug safety notice: Morphine sulfate (MST CONTINUS®) 20mg, 30mg, 60mg, 100mg and 200mg prolonged release granules for oral suspension

March 1, 2021

All strengths of MST Continus® prolonged release granules for oral suspension are being permanently discontinued during 2021 due to difficulty sourcing a key excipient.

The following table provides information on anticipated out of stock dates for each presentation:

Product details  Anticipated out of stock date
MST CONTINUS granules for suspension 20mg Nov – 21
MST CONTINUS granules for suspension 30mg Aug – 21
MST CONTINUS granules for suspension 60mg Jun – 21
MST CONTINUS granules for suspension 100mg May – 21
MST CONTINUS granules for suspension 200mg Jan – 22

Advice / Alternatives:

  • Alternative morphine sulfate presentations, both modified release and immediate release,remain available and will be able to support increased demand.
  • All patients on morphine sulfate MST CONTINUS® will need to be reviewed to determine if ongoing opioid treatment is necessary.
  • When switching to an alternative morphine sulfate a release formulation take into account current dosing regimen, i.e. is the preparation 12 hourly release or 24hourly release.
  • If other modified release preparations of morphine sulfate are not suitable clinicians should consider prescribing:
    • standard release preparations with as required doses for breakthrough pain
    • opioid patches once pain control has been stabilised with as required doses for breakthrough pain
  • Utilise opioid conversion tables located in the BNF when switching products.
  • The only modified release Morphine preparations that are licensed to be manipulated to enable administration to patients with swallowing difficulties or who are being tube fed, are Zomorph ® and MXL® capsules

Click here to read the full Drug supply distribution alert: MST Continuous sachets 01-0321