The withdrawal of Priadel has been paused while the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigates potential anti competitive behaviour by Essential Pharma.

The competition watchdog is investigating whether the withdrawal of Priadel would force prescribers to switch to the more expensive Camcolit, which is also supplied by Essential Pharma. No decision has yet been made as to whether the law has been broken.

Essential Pharma has confirmed supplies of Priadel 200mg and 400mg tablets are sufficient to meet current UK demand and is working to ensure further stocks are available to maintain supply after April 2021. In light of this, clinicians across all healthcare settings are advised that there is no longer a need to implement system wide switching of patients from Priadel tablets to an alternative lithium carbonate preparation until further notice.

More information can be found on the CMA’s investigation into supply of lithium-based medication case page and on the MHRA central alerting system.

Due to the narrow therapeutic index of lithium and the variation in bioavailability between different lithium preparations, prescriptions should specify the brand (where branded medicines are available) of lithium required.