
Medication shortages
Find out more about the current medication shortages.
Sometimes shortages of medicines can happen. There are many reasons why pharmacies and dispensing doctor practices are not always able to get certain medicines. This may include when manufacturers of medicines can have problems with making the medicine, transporting the medicines or there are problems with sourcing the ingredients needed to make the medicines. Sometimes when lots of people are suddenly prescribed a medicine this can use up all the supply. There are a few things you can do to help:
Here you'll find the latest information on manufacturing problems impacting the supply of products to community pharmacy and also for links to useful medicine stock information pages.
You can find recent medication shortage information below.
National Medication Shortages Information are available on SPS website (SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice). Healthcare Professional registration and log in is required to view.
Oxybutynin 3mg tablets- Discontinuation 202310 (login for website required)
Pancrease HL gastro-resistant capsules- Discontinuation 202310 (login for website required)
Paracetamol suppositories- Shortage 202303 (login for website required)
Permethrin 5% cream- Shortage 202308 (login for website required)
Phenytoin Sodium 100mg capsules (Accord)- Shortage 202308 (login for website required)
Piroxicam (Feldene) 0.5% Gel- Discontinuation 202210 (login for website required)
Prochlorperazine (Stemetil) 5mg in 5mL syrup Discontinuation 202304
Rasagiline 1mg tablets- Shortage 202311 (login for website required)
Reboxetine (Edronax) 4mg tablets- Shortage 202308 (login for website required)
Sevelamer oral powder sachets- Shortage 202311 (login for website required)
Sterculia (Normacol) granules- Discontinuation 202303 (login for website required)
Tetrabenazine 25mg tablets- Shortage 202311 (login for website required)
Varenicline 0.5mg and 1mg tablets- Shortage 202308 (login for website required)
SSPs enable community pharmacists to supply certain medicines in accordance with a protocol against a prescription, without needing to return the original prescription to the prescriber to get the prescription changed or amended. Please see here for all current authorised SSPs.
MIMS recently launched an on-line drug shortages tracker, which clinicians can access to find out information on current shortages and recently resolved issues. The tracker also suggests possible alternatives where appropriate. Users will need to register and log in to view, registration is free for GPs and nurses.
The list of the latest price concessions granted by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) can be found on the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) website.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have a list of alerts, recalls and safety information about medicines and medical devices on their website.