Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Department is taking to (a) monitor the recent shortages of Nardil (Phenelzine) and (b) ensure that patients who require the drug have access to it.

The Department is aware of an ongoing supply issue affecting licensed phenelzine 15mg tablets (Nardil) due to manufacturing issues. Although the supply of licensed phenelzine is affected, unlicensed phenelzine 15mg tablets imported from abroad by specialist importer companies in addition to phenelzine 15mg capsules specials are available.

We understand the importance of careful management of any changes to a patient’s phenelzine treatment and have worked closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement and national experts and have issued comprehensive guidance to the NHS to support those impacted during this time. The guidance issued includes information on how supplies of alternative phenelzine 15mg products can be accessed, where clinicians have deemed it appropriate.

We are continuing to work closely with the affected supplier to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and specialist importer companies to maintain access to supplies of phenelzine products.