A shortage of a common painkiller has sparked fresh warnings about the growing problem of medicine supply issues in the UK, with pharmacists urging the Government to take action. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said codeine 15mg tablets have recently been out of stock from wholesalers.
Supplies of pregabalin, a drug used to treat chronic neuropathic pain, have also been affected. Codeine is an opioid-based painkiller commonly prescribed for short-term pain, such as after surgery or injury.
It works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain to block pain signals travelling through the central nervous system. Despite the shortages, Dr Hannbeck stressed that patients should not panic or attempt to stockpile medicines.
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She said: “There is no need to panic. We will do everything we can – we may offer something else or a different format, like a liquid format. Community pharmacists will always do everything they can to not leave you without your medicine.”
Codeine is available on prescription in several forms, including tablets, liquid, syrup and injections, although injections are usually only administered in hospitals. The warning comes amid a wider trend of medicine shortages affecting pharmacies across the UK.
Supplies of several commonly prescribed drugs, including blood pressure medicines, epilepsy treatments and antidepressants, have also been disrupted. Dr Hannbeck told the Express: “We want patients to be aware that we are now experiencing this increasingly, with medicine shortages and something needs to be done about it.”
She urged people who are affected to contact their MPs to help raise awareness of the issue. Dr Hannbeck added that shortages of some blood pressure medications are continuing.
Pharmacists raised concerns earlier this year about supply problems involving drugs such as irbesartan, ramipril and propanolol. She said: “Quite a few of these very common blood pressure medicines are in short supply.”
Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said the shortages were affecting millions of patients and leaving pharmacies struggling to source essential medicines. He said: “We’re aware of shortages of vital blood pressure medication as well as painkillers prescribed to millions of people, impacting patients and pharmacies.
“This is just one of a growing list of hundreds of commonly prescribed medicines that pharmacies cannot reliably source for their patients, leaving patients going from pillar to post to get the medication they depend on. We urge patients who use these medications to speak to their GP and always order your repeat medicines in plenty of time before your current supply runs out.”
Mr Picard also called on the Government to reform outdated rules that prevent pharmacists from supplying alternative medicines when a prescribed item is unavailable. He said ministers should ‘urgently scrap red tape that prevents pharmacists from using their skills to supply a suitable alternative medicine where an item is not in stock’.
He added: “The legislation preventing this straightforward intervention was signed into law the same year as the advent of colour television and the Beatles were riding high at number one. These rules are antiquated, dangerous and simply not fit for purpose.
“It is madness to send someone back to their GP to get a prescription changed when a safe alternative is in stock at the pharmacy. The system should be updated urgently.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The UK’s licensed medicines are in good supply and to make sure this remains the case, we are investing more in the domestic medicine manufacturing industry.
“We are aware of supply issues with some medicines to treat blood pressure – we are working closely with suppliers to resolve current disruptions and ensure continuity of supply. We are not aware of a supply issue with codeine 15mg tablets.”
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