Pharmacists are said to be supporting ‘distressed patients’ with the shortage said to be lasting for at least 4 months
10:30, 13 Feb 2026Updated 11:04, 13 Feb 2026
NHS pharmacies around the country are running out of co-codamol due to a national shortage, it has been revealed(Image: Getty)
The UK has been hit by a severe shortage of a painkiller taken by millions in the UK. Pharmacists are said to be supporting ‘distressed patients’ due to the shortage of co-codamol, which is set to carry on into the summer.
More than 1.25 million doses of co-codamol were prescribed a month in the UK – it is largely impacting 30mg/500mg tablets, but it is affecting other strengths, industry experts said.
The National Pharmacy Association said it has been informed that supplies will not return to normal until June 2026. NHS providers across the UK have highlighted the shortage. For example, NHS Grampian has said there is a UK-wide shortage of co‑codamol 30/500 tablets. It told patients: “Supplies will be limited from early February 2026 until the summer. Other types of co-codamol 30/500 (capsules, soluble tablets, different strengths) cannot fully meet demand so we cannot simply switch you to another type of co-codamol.”
“You may not receive your usual supply of co‑codamol 30/500. Your prescriber or pharmacist may discuss alternative options, such as: Paracetamol on its own or a plan to slowly reduce the amount of co-co-codamol you take replacing doses of co-codamol with paracetamol instead.”
The Department of Health (DoH) said co-codamol has been “added to the list of medicines which cannot be hoarded or exported from the UK”.
Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Pharmacies are telling us they have struggled to order in supplies of some strengths of co-codamol, with a number reporting that supply disruption will last at least until June.
“This is a distressing shortage and pharmacists are trying their best to help patients manage severe pain. In some instances, alternatives are being prescribed.
“Where pharmacies have supplies, they will doing all they can to manage them to ensure patients get the medication they need.
“We face ever-growing issues with medicine supplies, which are compounded by the NHS not funding the full cost pharmacies have to pay to get the medicines patients need.
“The government must urgently act to address a growing list of medicine shortages impacting patients and pharmacists alike, who end up at the sharp end of an increasingly difficult medicine supply system.
“One thing they could easily do is allow pharmacists to make simple, safe substitutions to prescriptions where an item is out of stock, and save patients having to return to their GP without medication.”
The Department of Health and Social Care issued a notice this month that some of the tablets will be in short supply between February to July 2026. Prescribers are being advised not to begin new patients on the drug, the NHS states. Existing patients should also be switched to other alternatives, such as paracetamol 500mg tablets, which will remain available during this period.