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This page summarises the current NHS drug shortage list. The fastest route is usually to search your medicine directly, then track it if missing doses would matter.
Contents
How MediWatch Tracks UK Medicine Shortages
MediWatch exists because official shortage information is scattered across multiple government sources and difficult for patients and healthcare professionals to navigate quickly. We aggregate, standardise, and present data from the following official sources:
- DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications (MSNs): Published by the Department of Health and Social Care when a manufacturer or supplier notifies DHSC of a supply disruption. These are the primary official signal that a medicine is in shortage.
- NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs): Issued by NHS England/NHSBSA when a shortage is severe enough to require pharmacists to deviate from prescriptions without contacting the prescriber.
- Voluntary supply notifications: Notifications from manufacturers and wholesalers that don't always result in formal MSN or SSP issuance but indicate supply pressure.
We check these sources twice daily and update our shortage pages within hours of new notifications being published. For the live tracker, see mediwatch.co.uk/shortages.
Section 1: Official Active Shortages Right Now
The following medicines are present in the current official active shortage data. Status can change quickly, so use the live medicine page before making decisions.
| # | Medicine | Category | Status | Track it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramipril (1.25mg capsules) | Cardiovascular | Active SSP | Live tracker → |
| 2 | Propranolol (modified-release capsules) | Cardiovascular / Anxiety | Active MSN | Live tracker → |
| 3 | Estradot (estradiol patches) | HRT / Menopause | Active SSP | Live tracker → |
| 4 | Creon (pancreatin capsules) | Digestive / Cystic Fibrosis | Active SSP | Live tracker → |
| 5 | Co-codamol | Pain | Active MSN | Live tracker → |
| 6 | Diamorphine | Pain / Palliative care | Active MSN | Live tracker → |
| 7 | Cefixime | Antibiotics | Ongoing | Live tracker → |
| 8 | Nifedipine | Cardiovascular | Ongoing | Live tracker → |
| 9 | Tolterodine | Urology | Ongoing | Live tracker → |
| 10 | Co-trimoxazole | Antibiotics | Ongoing | Live tracker → |
Section 2: Full A-Z Medicine Shortage List
The complete, searchable list of all medicines currently in shortage is available on the MediWatch platform. You can search by medicine name, filter by category, and sort by severity.
A-Z medicine shortage pages
Browse all medicines with individual shortage tracking pages — searchable and filterable
Complete shortage list guide
Comprehensive reference guide to all current and recent UK medicine shortages
Live shortage dashboard
Real-time view of current active official shortage rows — updated twice daily
Each individual medicine page on MediWatch includes: current shortage status, official DHSC notification references, alternative medicines where applicable, pharmacy-level availability reports, and sign-up for shortage-specific email alerts.
Section 3: New Shortages This Month
The following medicines have been added to shortage tracking in the past 30 days (February–March 2026), reflecting new DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications or escalating supply issues:
- Doxycycline capsules — antibiotic; supply disruption from primary manufacturer
- Quetiapine 400mg tablets — antipsychotic; specific strength affected
- Amlodipine 5mg tablets — cardiovascular; certain generic formulations affected
- Methotrexate 2.5mg tablets — immunosuppressant / rheumatology; intermittent supply
- Lorazepam injection — hospital use; supply constraints from manufacturer
- Norethisterone 350mcg — contraception; Noriday and generics affected
- Budesonide inhaler — respiratory; specific formulation affected
New shortage notifications are published on the MediWatch dashboard within hours of DHSC and NHSBSA updates. Search shortages free to be notified about specific medicines as soon as they're added.
Section 4: Shortages by Condition Category
Medicine shortages are not evenly distributed — certain therapeutic categories are disproportionately affected. Here is a breakdown by condition area:
ADHD Medications
- Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) — no current official active shortage row
- Concerta XL (methylphenidate MR) — historic supply pressure, monitored
- Generic methylphenidate MR — no current official active shortage row
- Atomoxetine (Strattera) — no current official active shortage row
- Dexamfetamine — monitored for future official rows
Cardiovascular Medicines
- Ramipril — certain strengths and formulations
- Propranolol oral solution — liquid formulation critical
- Nifedipine — current official active row
- Amlodipine — monitored; check live medicine page before acting
- Candesartan — monitored historic supply pressure
Diabetes & Weight Management
- Trurapi and NovoRapid PumpCart — current official active rows
- Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) — monitored; check live medicine page for current official status
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) — monitored for future official rows
- Metformin modified-release — monitored historic supply pressure
Mental Health Medications
- Chlordiazepoxide — current official active row
- Fluoxetine — no current official active shortage row
- Quetiapine — no current official active shortage row
- Venlafaxine — no current official active shortage row
- Sertraline — historic issue, monitored
HRT & Hormonal Medicines
- Estradot patches — current active SSP rows
- Oestrogel and Sandrena gel — historic records; no current official active row
- Noriday (norethisterone 350mcg) — check live medicine page for current status
- Testosterone gel — monitored for future official rows
Antibiotics
- Cefixime — current official active row
- Co-trimoxazole — current official active row
- Amoxicillin suspension — monitored seasonal pressure
- Trimethoprim — historic issue, monitored
Respiratory
- Respiratory medicines are monitored against official rows
- Salbutamol — globally watched; check live status before acting
- Montelukast — monitored for future official rows
Epilepsy & Neurology
- Carbamazepine — intermittent supply
- Sodium valproate — specific formulations
- Levetiracetam — some strengths intermittently affected
Digestive / Specialist
- Creon (pancreatin) — ongoing shortage, critical for cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis patients
- Mesalazine — some formulations
- Methotrexate — supply intermittent
Section 5: How to Check If Your Medicine Is in Shortage
If you are worried about your medicine's availability, here is a step-by-step approach:
Step 1: Search MediWatch
Go to mediwatch.co.uk/shortages/medicine and search for your medicine by name. Each medicine page shows the current shortage status, official notification details, and any active Serious Shortage Protocols.
Step 2: Check the live dashboard
The MediWatch shortages dashboard shows current active official shortage rows in real time, with filtering by category and severity. This is the fastest way to see whether your medicine is currently listed.
Step 3: Sign up for alerts
Rather than checking manually, search MediWatch free. You can specify which medicines you want to monitor and receive an email as soon as a shortage is declared or updated for those medicines. This is especially useful for medicines you take long-term.
Step 4: Ask your pharmacist
Pharmacists receive supply information from their wholesalers and often know about shortages before they are formally published. If you're concerned, your pharmacist is a frontline source of information and can advise on alternatives.
Step 5: Check official sources
If you want to go directly to source, official UK shortage information is published at:
- DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications — gov.uk/government/publications/medicine-supply-notifications
- NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols — psnc.org.uk (or directly on nhsbsa.nhs.uk)
Note that official sources can be harder to navigate and may not capture all shortage situations.
Section 6: Understanding Shortage Types — MSN, SSP, and Voluntary Notifications
Not all medicine shortages are the same. Understanding the different official shortage designations helps you know how severe an issue is and what it means for getting your prescription dispensed.
Medicine Supply Notification (MSN)
Issued by DHSC when a manufacturer or supplier reports a supply disruption. An MSN means a shortage is officially acknowledged nationally. It does not automatically change how your prescription is dispensed — pharmacists still need to source the medicine, but are aware there is a problem.
Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP)
A more significant intervention. An SSP, issued by NHS England/NHSBSA, legally allows pharmacists to supply a different quantity, strength, formulation, or even a different medicine to what the prescription says — without contacting the prescriber. SSPs are reserved for the most severe shortages and represent a significant regulatory response.
Voluntary Supply Notification
Some manufacturers notify DHSC of supply pressure before a formal shortage is declared. These voluntary notifications indicate a developing issue and allow DHSC and pharmacists to prepare. They may not appear on official lists but are tracked by MediWatch through pharmaceutical industry communications.
What an SSP means for you
If your medicine has an active SSP, your pharmacist has the authority to make specific changes to your prescription to ensure you receive treatment. For example, an SSP might allow a pharmacist to dispense a smaller quantity, a different brand of the same medicine, or in some cases a therapeutically equivalent alternative. Your pharmacist should explain any changes made under an SSP.
Related Shortage Guides
Elvanse & ADHD medication shortage 2026
Detailed guide to the ADHD medication supply crisis and what to do
Noriday contraception shortage 2026
Alternatives and switching guide for Noriday (norethisterone) shortage
Most commonly shorted medicines
Data analysis of which medicines face shortages most frequently
Why medicine shortages happen
The root causes of the UK medicine supply crisis explained
Frequently Asked Questions
MediWatch tracks current official active shortage rows from DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications, Community Pharmacy England updates and NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols. The number fluctuates daily as shortages are declared, updated, and resolved. See the live dashboard for the current count.
MediWatch (mediwatch.co.uk) is the most comprehensive free resource for UK medicine shortage information, checking DHSC and NHSBSA sources twice daily. You can search by medicine name, browse by category, or search shortages free for specific medicines. Official sources include the DHSC medicine supply notifications page (gov.uk) and the NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols page.
A Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) is an NHS England/NHSBSA instrument that allows pharmacists to legally supply a different quantity, strength, formulation, or even a different medicine to what is written on a prescription — without needing to contact the prescriber first. SSPs are issued when a medicine shortage is severe enough that normal prescription rules would prevent patients receiving treatment. They represent a significant regulatory response and are reserved for the most critical shortages.
The overall trend over the past three years has been a gradual increase in the number and severity of medicine shortages. ADHD medications have seen a sustained and severe crisis since late 2023. Some categories — notably HRT — have improved significantly after targeted government intervention. Others, such as GLP-1 weight management drugs, have worsened as demand has grown faster than global manufacturing capacity. Structural issues including supply chain concentration, controlled-substance quotas, and thin margins in the generics market mean shortages are unlikely to disappear entirely.
MediWatch monitors two primary official data sources twice daily: DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications (MSNs) and NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs). We also track voluntary manufacturer notifications and cross-reference with pharmacy networks. Each shortage is categorised by severity, linked to official documentation, and given an individual medicine tracking page. Search shortages free to be notified when your medicines are affected.
First, don't panic — most shortages are manageable with the right guidance. Steps to take: (1) Check the MediWatch tracker for your specific medicine to understand the severity and any alternatives. (2) Contact your prescriber — they should be aware of the shortage and can advise on alternatives or issue a new prescription for an equivalent medicine. (3) Call ahead to multiple pharmacies rather than visiting in person. (4) Ask your pharmacist about part-dispensing if only partial stock is available. (5) Sign up for MediWatch alerts to be notified as soon as your medicine's supply situation changes.
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Sign up free →Page last updated: 13 June 2026. Data checked twice daily. The live dashboard reflects current active official shortage rows from DHSC, CPE and NHSBSA sources.