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The fastest way to use MediWatch is to search the medicine name, then check the exact strength or formulation before calling pharmacies or your prescriber.
Currently in shortage (UK, November 2026)
Key current shortages, checked against the CPE medicine supply notifications and the NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocol list on 17 October 2026. The co-codamol and co-trimoxazole notices (last two rows) no longer appear in our active official data (15 October 2026), but recovery has not been confirmed. For every active notice, use the A–Z medicine list.
| Medicine | Reference | Status | Expected back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Propranolol 80mg + 160mg MR capsules → Related medicines |
MSN/2025/059 | Tier 2 | November 2026 (SPS estimate, reported by CPE on 10 September 2026) |
| Venlafaxine 75mg immediate-release tablets | MSN/2026/040 | Tier 2 | November 2026 |
| Ramipril 1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg capsules → Related medicines |
MSN/2026/043 + SSP087 | Limited supply, SSP ended | End of October 2026: passed, no DHSC update, supply not confirmed back (SSP087 for 1.25mg capsules ended 30 October 2026) |
| Lansoprazole 15mg + 30mg orodispersible tablets | MSN/2026/044 + SSP088, SSP089 | Limited supply + SSP × 2 | Early January 2027 (SSPs run to 15 January 2027) |
| Estradot 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 mcg patches | SSP079, 080, 081, 082 | SSP × 4 | SSPs in place until 8 January 2027 (NHSBSA, amended 2 October 2026) |
| Creon 10000 gastro-resistant capsules | SSP060 | SSP ended | SSP060 ended 2 October 2026 (NHSBSA). Creon® 10,000 capsules remain in limited supply until 2026 (NatPSA/2024/013/DHSC) |
| Creon 25000 gastro-resistant capsules | SSP061 | SSP | SSP061 in place until 8 January 2027 (NHSBSA, amended 2 October 2026) |
| Diamorphine 5mg, 10mg, 100mg injection | MSN/2025/071 | Tier 3 | No confirmed resupply date |
| Genotropin (somatropin) 5.3mg / 12mg reusable pen device | MSN/2025/072 | Tier 2 | At least early 2027 |
| Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets | MSN/2026/001 | Tier 3 | Estimate passed; recovery not confirmed. Check with your pharmacist (the notice estimated early June 2026) |
| Co-trimoxazole oral suspension | MSN/2026/016 | Tier 2 | 80mg/400mg/5ml: resupply date to be confirmed. 40mg/200mg/5ml sugar free: estimate passed; recovery not confirmed. Check with your pharmacist (the notice estimated June 2026) |
→ See recently back-in-stock medicines (last 60 days)
Latest update: October 2026 medicine shortages update — 31 active shortages, the 3 new this month, and the SSPs extended or ending.
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Each condition hub aggregates every medicine in that area — both currently affected and historically affected — with the clinical context behind the supply position.
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A–Z of indexed medicine pages
Direct links to every medicine that currently has a dedicated MediWatch page with live shortage status, related medicines and patient guidance.
Co-codamol
Co-trimoxazole
Creon 10000
Creon 25000
Diamorphine
Estradot
Genotropin
Propranolol
Ramipril
New guide: UK medicine shortages 2026: data study — what our tracker logged this year, with charts.
How we know what's in shortage
Two official UK feeds drive everything on this page:
- Community Pharmacy England (CPE) Medicine Supply Notifications — the live list of DHSC MSNs in force, with tier (1–4), affected formulations, expected resolution dates and clinical advice (CPE — MSN list).
- CPE Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) register — DHSC SSPs issued under regulations 226A and 226B of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. Each SSP sets out exactly what it allows: today's lansoprazole and Creon® 25000 SSPs only let pharmacists limit supply to one month (as ramipril's SSP087 did until it ended on 30 October 2026), and the Estradot® SSPs let them supply Evorel® or Estraderm® MX patches of the same strength instead. SSPs are issued by DHSC and published by NHSBSA (CPE — SSP register).
We cross-reference both against the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service supply-of-medicines pages (the clinical guidance behind each notification) and NHS Business Services Authority publications. A shortage moves off this hub only when CPE removes the corresponding notification — not when a manufacturer says supply will return or a pharmacy chain reports improvement.
What to do if your medicine is on this list
- Speak to your GP, pharmacist or specialist team before stopping or switching anything.
- Open the individual medicine page above — it has the current status, the official DHSC notice, and a dedicated "related medicines" page where applicable.
- If an SSP is in force, your pharmacy may be able to supply your medicine in the way that protocol allows, without a new prescription. Each SSP sets out exactly what it allows, so ask them directly.
- Order your repeat prescription early — don't wait until the day you run out.
- If you feel unwell going without your medicine, contact your GP or call NHS 111. Use 999 for emergencies.
- Search MediWatch free for the specific medicines you take.
Frequently asked questions
How many medicines are currently in shortage in the UK?
The number changes week to week as DHSC issues new Medicine Supply Notifications (MSNs) and NHSBSA issues or ends Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs). The table on this page lists the key current shortages, and the A–Z medicine list shows every medicine with an active notice. MediWatch re-checks the official sources twice a day.
Where does this UK shortage list come from?
Every shortage on this page comes directly from the CPE Medicine Supply Notification list and Serious Shortage Protocol register — the same DHSC feeds your pharmacy uses. We cross-reference each entry with NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service clinical guidance.
What is the difference between an MSN and an SSP?
A Medicine Supply Notification (MSN) is the DHSC's official notice that a medicine is in shortage, with a tier (1–4) indicating clinical impact. A Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) is a separate legal tool — it lets a pharmacy supply in the way the protocol sets out, without the prescriber having to issue a new prescription. Each SSP sets out exactly what it allows: today's lansoprazole and Creon® 25000 SSPs only let pharmacists limit supply to one month (as ramipril's SSP087 did until it ended on 30 October 2026), and the Estradot® SSPs let them supply Evorel® or Estraderm® MX patches of the same strength instead. Both are issued by DHSC; SSPs are published by NHSBSA.
How do I find out when my specific medicine is back in stock?
Open the individual medicine page from the list above — each shows the current DHSC expected resolution date plus a "related medicines" page where appropriate. You can also search MediWatch free to be notified the moment your medicine's shortage is resolved or extended.
Is a medicine still in shortage if it is missing from this list?
Not necessarily. The table above lists the key current shortages only, so check the A–Z medicine list or your medicine's own page for its current status. Pharmacies may still have local short-term stock gaps because of delivery schedules, wholesaler stock or local demand — always check with your pharmacist.
Is the UK drug shortage tracker the same as the NHS one?
The NHS does not publish a single patient-facing tracker — the official feed is the CPE Medicine Supply Notification list, which is written for pharmacists. MediWatch reads that same feed twice a day and re-presents it in patient-readable form, with related-medicine guidance and dedicated pages per drug.
Get told the moment your medicine is back
Free email alerts if a medicine you take goes into short supply. Alerts are rare — that's good news.
Search shortages free →Source data checked: 12 November 2026, 06:18 UTC. This page is information, not medical advice — always speak to your GP, pharmacist or specialist team about your own medicines.