High street pharmacies are struggling to get children’s painkillers as a new wave of drug shortages hits patients.
Warehouses are virtually empty of various types of liquid painkillers, including the best-known brand Calpol, forcing pharmacists to scramble for supplies.
Other everyday medications, including Lemsip and Gaviscon, are also becoming more difficult to obtain, Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, Managing Director of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies.
It comes just months after chemists saw a widespread shortage of antibiotics for children, partly due to waves of the potentially deadly Strep A bacteria that swept the country over the winter.
Dr. Hannbeck, a practicing pharmacist, said: “The supply of liquid acetaminophen and ibuprofen given to children for pain relief is very small indeed.
Warehouses are virtually empty of various types of liquid painkillers, including the best-known brand Calpol, leaving pharmacists scrambling for supplies (file photo)
“Pharmacists spend a lot of time getting medications – of at least one kind at a time – so patients don’t get too nervous.
“Not only children’s painkillers are affected, but also a number of other common medicines, including Sterimar nasal spray for babies, Lemsip, Gaviscon, Optrex and [constipation treatment] Senokot.”
A “variant” is a specific formulation of a drug, which refers to both its strength and the method of administration of the drug, such as a tablet, capsule or liquid form.
Dr. Hannbeck added: “The drug shortage is getting worse this year. Manufacturers tell us it has to do with factory restrictions, problems in the production of the raw materials used to make generic medicines in China and India.’
The rising price of glass needed for glass bottles used for many products exacerbates the problem, she explained.
But she urged patients not to panic, saying: “Please do not stock this medicine – there is no need to worry and pharmacists are doing everything they can to alleviate the situation.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We know how distressing and frustrating drug supply issues can be, but we want to reassure people that we have well-established processes aimed at preventing supply issues in the first place. and to control or mitigate them when they occur.
“We work with a wide range of organizations operating in the UK’s medicines supply chain to provide advice and ensure patients continue to have access to safe and effective treatments.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
