The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a medicines supply notification for:

• Durogesic® DTrans® 75micrograms/hour patches are out of stock until December 2025
• Durogesic® DTrans® 12micrograms/hour patches will be out of stock from late April until December 2025
• Durogesic® DTrans® 25micrograms/hour and 50micrograms/hour patches will be out of stock from late May until December 2025
• Durogesic® DTrans® 100micrograms/hour patches will be out of stock from late June until December 2025
• Alternative brands of fentanyl matrix patches (Fencino®, Matrifen®, Mezolar®, Opiodur®, Yemex®) remain available and can support increased demand. 

Actions for prescribers

Prescribers should not initiate patients on Durogesic® DTrans® (all strengths) until the supply issues have resolved.

Where patients have insufficient supplies to last until the re-supply dates, clinicians should:

1. Review patients and consider prescribing an alternative brand of fentanyl matrix patch that is available including: Fencino®, Matrifen®, Mezolar®, Opiodur®, Yemex®.
2. Monitor and clinically assess the patient’s response and titrate dose if required.
3. Ensure patients are counselled on the change in brand and are not intolerant to any of the patch excipients.

To avoid confusion and ensure consistency of supply to patients, it is recommended that all fentanyl patches are prescribed by brand name.

ScriptSwitch® messages have been enabled to provide information on this shortage to support primary care. 

Clinicians should refer to the SPS Medicines Shortage Tool MSN/2025/023 for actions required and supporting information.