Isoflurane in temporary supply issues
Practices are encouraged to contact their pharmaceutical representatives regarding supply.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) have been made aware of a temporary supply issue with certain products containing isoflurane.
The following products have been reported as being in short supply:
- IsoFlo100% w/w Inhalation Vapour, liquid (Vm: 42058/4195). Zoetis is out of stock of IsoFlo. Supply is estimated to return in January/February 2019. This is due to a manufacturing problem with the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).
- Vetflurane 1000mg/g inhalation vapour, liquid (Vm: 05653/4166). Virbac is out of stock of Vetflurane. Supply is estimated to return in March 2019. This is due to high demand for isoflurane products.
Practices are encouraged to contact their pharmaceutical representatives for more information regarding supply.
If a suitable alternative product authorised for use outside of the UK is required to cover immediate needs, an Import Certificate application can be submitted to the VMD. A link to the certificate can be found here.
Import Certificate applications should only be submitted once attempts to source UK authorised products (human or veterinary) have been confirmed unsuccessful.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
