Progress made, but serious NHS drug shortages continue

The NHS continues to suffer a shortage of medicines, with alerts in place for conditions including alcoholism, ADHD, type 2 diabetes, and menopause, as UK manufacturers of generic drugs report shortages lasting over 6 months for over half of their medicines. 

Pabrinex vitamin B IM injections, which are used for alcoholism, debility, haemodialysis, and Wernickes encephalopathy, have not been available since August, and there are no plans for their return. 

Supply of ADHD medication currently varies, but issues remain for prolonged-release tablets of methylphenidate, the Department of Health and Social Care told Medscape News UK.

There is a limited supply of liraglutide and the wider GLP-1 receptor agonist medications used for type 2 diabetes and weight management.

Other medication safety alerts have been issued for the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) ethinylestradiol, potassium chloride syrup (KAY-CEE) for hypokalaemia, and phenytoin capsules for epilepsy seizures related to neurosurgery or head injury, status epilepticus, and ventricular arrhythmias. 

To address ADHD medication shortages, clinical guidelines have been issued to support switching to available medicines. Existing supplies have been conserved by not starting new patients on medicines that have limited supplies, but using alternatives, said James Davies, England director of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), speaking to Medscape News UK. 

He added that certain strengths of paracetamol suppositories are in short supply and are expected to be restocked next February. “In the meantime, alternative treatments with the tablet, capsule, liquid, or IV formulations are considered where clinically appropriate, or using half of the suppositories that continue to be in stock and available,” he said. 

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Source: Medscape News, 15 November 2024

Further reading on the hub

• Medication supply issues: Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
• Medication supply issues: A pharmacist’s perspective
• Medicines shortages: House of Commons Research Briefing 
• New RPS project investigates medicines shortages

Have you (or a loved one) ever been prescribed medication that you were then unable to get hold of at the pharmacy? 

• Was there an impact on your health (physical and mental)? 
• Were you told the reason for it not being available? 
• Was the issue resolved? If so, how long did it take?If you are still impacted by medication supply issues, have you been told when you will be able to access them again?

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