Antibiotic Shortage UK

22 active shortages tracked

Updated 27 March 2026 from official DHSC & NHS data

Antibiotic shortages are a growing concern in the UK. Multiple antibiotics including penicillin V and cefalexin oral suspensions have faced supply problems, particularly affecting children's formulations.

Current Active Shortages (22)

Antimicrobial Agents Used in Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment

high DHSC MSN

This National Patient Safety Alert has been superseded by Medicine Supply Notification MSN/2025/058 Antimicrobial Agents Used in Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment issued on 23 October 2025 • Rifampicin 150m

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Cefalexin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Cefalexin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free (PDF:143KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Cefalexin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Cefalexin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free (PDF:143KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Cefalexin 500mg tablets

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Cefalexin 500mg tablets (PDF:138KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension (PDF:150KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (PDF:147KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets (PDF:272KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:274KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution (PDF:274KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:275KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution (PDF:273KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution (PDF:143KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:145KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSP

Serious Shortage Protocol active for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:138KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.

⚠️ Resolution date passed — supply status unconfirmed. Check with your pharmacist.

Hameln Pharma Ltd, Clarithromycin 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

Medium NHSBSA SSP

Hameln Pharma Ltd is recalling certain batches of Clarithromycin 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion.

Hameln Pharma Ltd, Clarithromycin 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

Medium NHSBSA SSP

Hameln Pharma Ltd is recalling certain batches of Clarithromycin 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion.

Hameln Pharma Ltd, Clarithromycin 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

Medium NHSBSA SSP

Hameln Pharma Ltd is recalling certain batches of Clarithromycin 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion.

Co-trimoxazole 40mg/200mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free and Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg/5ml oral suspension

medium DHSC MSN

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Co-trimoxazole 40mg/200mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free and Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg/5ml oral suspension • C

Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspensions

medium DHSC MSN

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Erythromycin 250mg gastro-resistant tablets • Erythromycin 250mg tablets are currently out of stock until w/c

Erythromycin 250mg gastro-resistant tablets

medium DHSC MSN

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Erythromycin 250mg gastro-resistant tablets • Erythromycin 250mg tablets are currently out of stock until w/c

Cefalexin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspensions, sugar free

medium DHSC MSN

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Cefalexin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspensions, sugar free • Cefalexin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspen

Levofloxacin 250mg and 500mg tablets

Active DHSC MSN

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Levofloxacin 250mg and 500mg tablets • Levofloxacin 250mg tablets are in limited supply until late April 2025

What to Do If Affected

Complete your full course even if you have to switch brands
Ask your GP about alternative antibiotics
Children's liquid formulations are often most affected
Don't save antibiotics for later use
Contact NHS 111 if you can't complete a course

Related Medicine Pages

Get free shortage alerts

Be the first to know when your medication is affected

Sign up free →

Data sources: DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications · NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols · NHS England
Page last updated: 27 March 2026. Data checked daily.