{"id":613490,"date":"2026-09-03T20:46:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T20:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/613490\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T20:46:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T20:46:19","slug":"venlafaxine-shortage-warning-issued-for-patients-across-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/613490\/","title":{"rendered":"Venlafaxine shortage warning issued for patients across Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenational.scot\/topics\/nhs-scotland\/?ref=au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NHS Scotland<\/a> has issued a medicines supply notice warning that venlafaxine 75mg immediate-release tablets are expected to remain unavailable until November.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The medication is used to treat depression and can also be prescribed for anxiety, panic attacks and some menopause symptoms.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  According to guidance published by NHS Scotland, prescribers have been advised not to start any new patients on the 75mg immediate-release tablets while supplies remain limited.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenational.scot\/news\/26517237.secrecy-row-snp-government-refuses-name-13-firms-banned-genocide-policy\/?ref=ed_latest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Secrecy row as SNP Government refuses to name 13 firms banned under genocide policy<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The shortage only affects the immediate-release version of the medication, which is normally taken twice daily.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Alternative formulations, including modified-release venlafaxine capsules in 37.5mg, 75mg and 150mg strengths, remain available and are expected to be used to help meet demand.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Venlafaxine belongs to a group of antidepressants known as serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The medicine works by increasing levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain and is commonly used to help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The NHS Scotland supply notice has been circulated to pharmacies and healthcare professionals across the country.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The warning follows a Tier 2 medium-impact supply alert issued by the Department of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenational.scot\/news\/health\/?ref=au\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Health<\/a> and Social Care.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenational.scot\/news\/26517121.reform-uk-msp-accidentally-backs-snp-call-devolution-scotland\/?ref=ed_latest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reform UK MSP accidentally backs SNP call for further devolution to Scotland<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Health officials have stressed that guidance has been provided to healthcare professionals on managing patients affected by the shortage and on switching suitable patients to alternative formulations where appropriate.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: &#8220;We are aware of issues with Venlafaxine 75mg immediate release tablets affecting some suppliers.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  &#8220;We are working closely with all suppliers to resolve the problem, speed up deliveries, and ensure patients can continue to access their medicine.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  &#8220;We have issued comprehensive guidance on how to manage patients affected by this shortage, including advice on using other types and strengths of the medicine which remain available.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Patients are being advised not to stop taking prescribed medication without first speaking to their GP, pharmacist or healthcare professional.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NHS Scotland has issued a medicines supply notice warning that venlafaxine 75mg immediate-release tablets are expected to remain&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":613491,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[103,61,60,371],"class_list":["post-613490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-medication","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-medication"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=613490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613490\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/613491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=613490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=613490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=613490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}