Urgent help
Run out of medicine?
How to get an emergency supply in the UK — the pharmacy route, the NHS 111 route, and what each costs.
Medicine stock checker
Check national shortage status and get a list of nearby pharmacies to phone.
Medicine availability guides
How MediWatch is building the tracker
What the locator can show, what it cannot guarantee, and why safety caveats matter.
How to find medicine in stock near you
Medicine out of stock? A practical call-first process for what to do next.
How availability data works
What confirmed recently, reported by pharmacy, and usually stocked mean.
Can pharmacies check stock?
What to ask, what pharmacies can confirm, and when to go back to your prescriber.
Boots stock checker for prescriptions
How it works, what In stock, Low stock and Out of stock mean, and what to do when it says no.
ADHD, HRT and diabetes searches
How to search safely when strength, form, brand, or device details matter.
What to Do When Your Medicine Is Out of Stock
Step-by-step guide on what to do when your prescription medication is unavailabl...
How NHS Medicine Shortages Work
Understanding why medicine shortages happen in the UK, how the NHS and DHSC mana...
Your Rights When Prescriptions Are Unavailable
Know your rights as an NHS patient when your prescription medication is unavaila...
How to Find Alternative Pharmacies Near You
Tips for finding pharmacies with stock when your usual pharmacy is out of your m...
Medicine Shortage UK 2026 — Complete List
Complete list of all 30 active medicine shortages in the UK for 2026. Updated da...
How to Talk to Your GP About Medication Alternatives
Practical advice on discussing medication alternatives with your GP when your us...
Weight-loss & GLP-1 medicine guides
Amycretin (Oral & Injectable): Is It Available in the UK?
Is amycretin, Novo Nordisk
Buying Weight-Loss Jabs Online in the UK — How to Stay Safe
How to buy weight-loss jabs (Wegovy, Mounjaro, Ozempic) online safely in the UK: check a pharmacy is GPhC-regi...
CagriSema UK: Availability and What the REDEFINE Trials Show
Is CagriSema (cagrilintide + semaglutide), Novo Nordisk
Compounded and Unlicensed Weight-Loss Jabs in the UK — a Safety Warning
The MHRA has seized fake weight-loss pens — some containing insulin, not semaglutide — and shut down illicit f...
Do Weight-Loss Jabs Weaken Bones? GLP-1 Fracture Risk Explained
Do GLP-1 weight-loss jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro weaken bones or raise fracture risk? What the UK product in...
Does Mounjaro Cause Muscle Loss? GLP-1 & Lean Mass Explained
Do GLP-1 weight-loss medicines like Mounjaro and Wegovy cause muscle loss? What the trials show, how it compar...
GLP-1 Drugs and Sudden Vision Loss (NAION): The Safety Signal Explained
The MHRA and EMA have added NAION — sudden, painless vision loss — as a very rare side effect of semaglutide (...
GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs and Pancreatitis: What the Evidence Says
Do GLP-1 weight-loss medicines like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic cause pancreatitis? What the trials show, the...
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Side Effects: A UK Guide
The MHRA-labelled side effects of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) explained for UK patients: common gut symptoms, serio...
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) UK 2026: Availability, Price Rises & NHS Rollout
Is Mounjaro available in the UK? 2026 supply status, the September 2025 private price rises, the phased NHS ro...
Mounjaro on the NHS: Diabetes vs Weight Loss — the Two NICE Pathways (TA924 & TA1026)
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) reaches the NHS by two separate NICE routes: TA924 for type 2 diabetes and TA1026 for w...
Mounjaro vs Wegovy: An Honest UK Comparison (2026)
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) vs Wegovy (semaglutide) in the UK: what the head-to-head SURMOUNT-5 trial found on effi...
Nausea & Gut Side Effects on Weight-Loss Jabs — Managing Them Safely (UK 2026)
A UK guide to managing nausea and gut side effects on weight-loss jabs (Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic): the clinic...
Orforglipron (Oral GLP-1 Pill): Is It Available in the UK?
Is orforglipron (Foundayo), Eli Lilly
Protein & Muscle on Weight-Loss Jabs: What Actually Helps
On GLP-1 weight-loss jabs like Mounjaro and Wegovy, some weight lost is muscle. Here
Retatrutide UK 2026: Is the Triple-Agonist Weight-Loss Drug Available?
Can you get retatrutide in the UK? It is investigational and not licensed by the MHRA — it cannot be prescribe...
Rybelsus (Oral Semaglutide) in the UK: What It Is & Availability
Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) is licensed in the UK for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. Its NHS availability, ...
Saxenda & Victoza (liraglutide) in the UK: Status & How It Compares
Liraglutide (Saxenda for weight, Victoza for diabetes) in the UK in 2026: what
The Next Wave of Weight-Loss Drugs Coming to the UK (2026)
Mazdutide, survodutide, retatrutide, CagriSema and orforglipron: which next-generation weight-loss drugs are l...
Wegovy & Ozempic (Semaglutide) Side Effects — a UK Guide 2026
A UK guide to semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus) side effects: the common gut symptoms and how to manage ...
Wegovy & Ozempic (Semaglutide) UK 2026: Availability, Shortages & Access
Wegovy vs Ozempic explained: the difference, the 2022-24 UK semaglutide shortage and its recovery, NHS access ...
Wegovy & Ozempic Shortages in the UK: The Full Timeline (2022–2026)
A dated, source-linked timeline of the UK semaglutide (Wegovy & Ozempic) shortage: the 2022-23 supply crun...
Weight-Loss Jabs, Gallstones & the Pancreas: The Evidence
Do GLP-1 weight-loss jabs like Mounjaro and Wegovy cause gallstones or pancreatitis? What UK trial evidence sh...
Weight-loss jabs, pregnancy and contraception — the MHRA warning
The MHRA warning on GLP-1 weight-loss jabs (Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic), pregnancy and contraception for UK pat...
What Happens When You Stop Mounjaro or Wegovy? Weight Regain Explained
What the evidence shows about weight regain after stopping Mounjaro (tirzepatide) or Wegovy (semaglutide): the...
Why Weight-Loss Jabs Don't Work for Everyone | GLP-1 Non-Responders
Why do weight-loss jabs like Mounjaro and Wegovy not work for everyone? What GLP-1
More patient guides
ADHD Medication UK: Types, How They Work & Availability
The UK’s ADHD medicines explained — methylphenidate, Elvanse, atomoxetine, guanfacine — how they differ, and l...
Brexit's Impact on UK Medicine Supply
How Brexit affected medicine supply in the UK. Regulatory divergence, customs barriers, parallel trade impacts...
Generic vs Branded Medicines: What You Need to Know |
Generic vs branded medicines explained for UK patients. Are generics safe? When does brand matter? Understandi...
History of UK Drug Shortages: 2010-2026
A timeline of major medicine shortages in the UK from 2010 to 2026. Key events, government responses, and less...
How Pharmacies Handle Medicine Shortages
What happens behind the pharmacy counter during medicine shortages. How pharmacists source alternatives, manag...
How the DHSC Manages Medicine Supply
How the Department of Health and Social Care manages UK medicine supply. SSPs, strategic stockpiles, manufactu...
How to Build a Prescription Buffer Legally
How to legally maintain a small buffer of prescription medication in the UK. Tips for staying ahead of shortag...
How to Check If Your Medicine Is in Shortage — UK 2026
How to check if your medicine is in shortage in the UK in 2026. Use MediWatch free checker tool, DHSC notifica...
How to Switch Pharmacies in the UK
How to switch pharmacies in the UK for better medicine availability. No paperwork needed. Tips for finding pha...
NHS 111 Emergency Supply & Prescription: Get Medicine Today
Run out of medicine out of hours? Here's how NHS 111 and pharmacists arrange an emergency supply today, wh...
NHS Complaints Process for Medicine Shortages
How to complain about medicine shortage handling in the NHS. Step-by-step complaints process for pharmacies, G...
Online vs High Street Pharmacies During Shortages |
Comparing online and high street pharmacies during medicine shortages in the UK. Which has better stock, how t...
Private Prescriptions as a Backup During Shortages |
Using private prescriptions when NHS medication is unavailable. Costs, how to get one, online options, and eth...
Travelling With Medication During Shortages
How to travel safely when your medication faces UK shortages. Planning ahead, carrying enough supply, and gett...
UK Medicine Shortages: Complete Guide 2026
Complete UK medicine shortages guide 2026: why they happen, your patient rights, how SSPs work, what to ask yo...
What to Ask Your GP When Medication Is Unavailable
What to ask your GP when a prescribed medicine is unavailable: safe alternatives, prescription wording, monito...
Why Medicine Shortages Happen in the UK
The root causes of medicine shortages in the UK explained. Manufacturing issues, supply chain concentration, B...
Your Rights When Medicine Is Unavailable in the UK |
Know your legal rights when prescription medicine is unavailable in the UK. NHS entitlements, emergency supply...
Don't get caught off guard
Free email alerts if a medicine you take goes into short supply. Alerts are rare — that's good news.
Search shortages free →Data sources: DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications · NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols · MHRA alerts
MediWatch is not medical advice. Always follow your prescription label and ask a pharmacist, GP, specialist, NHS 111, or emergency services if you are unsure or unwell. Data checked daily.