Astra Zeneca has reintroduced Losec capsules, only a few weeks after announcing their discontinuation.
The action has been taken to avoid problems with prescription endorsement, the company says.
The capsules were discontinued at the time of the launch of the new Losec MUPS tablets at the end of September.
However, the company has now restarted production of capsules. It says that this has been done to minimise disruption to patients or health care professionals after it became apparent that pharmacists would not be able to endorse a prescription for Losec capsules with Losec MUPS tablets. Astra Zeneca says that Losec capsules will remain available for "the foreseeable future".
Dr Gordon Geddes (head of information and technical services, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee) told The Journal that, when the capsules were discontinued, he had asked the Department of Health if an arrangement could be made for pharmacists to get verbal approval from a prescriber to change a prescription when Losec capsules were prescribed, but that he had had no reply.