Pharmacists warn shortage of common pain medication could last until summer
It comes as supplies of the pain medication have been limited in Scotland 💊
- Shortages of co-codamol are expected to continue until June.
- Pharmacists have warned that they are struggling to get the medication.
- In Scotland, supplies of the medication have been limited.
Pharmacists are warning that shortages of some strengths of co-codamol are expected to last until at least the end of June.
It comes as supplies of the medication used to treat pain have been limited in Scotland, with patients told to reduce their dosage as there will not be enough to meet demand.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents around 6,000 independent community pharmacies in the UK, report that pharmacies are struggling to source 30mg/500mg Co-codamol tablets, with the shortages also affecting other strengths.
In 2025, 1.25 million items of co-codamol were prescribed to patients every month, according to NHS Open Prescribing statistics.
Suppliers have informed pharmacies that supply will not return to normal until at least June, with the NPA urging the government to tackle an “ever-growing” list of medication shortages.
Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Pharmacies are telling us they have struggled to order in supplies of some strengths of co-codamol, with a number reporting that supply disruption will last at least until June.
"Pharmacies across the country are struggling to obtain some strengths of co-codamol, and several suppliers are indicating disruption could last until at least June. This is deeply distressing for patients living with severe pain, and pharmacists are working tirelessly to find safe alternatives or manage very limited stock.
"Where pharmacies have supplies, they will be doing all they can to manage them to ensure patients get the medication they need. We face ever-growing issues with medicine supplies, which are compounded by the NHS not funding the full cost pharmacies have to pay to get the medicines patients need.
“The government must urgently act to address a growing list of medicine shortages impacting patients and pharmacists alike, who end up at the sharp end of an increasingly difficult medicine supply system.
"One thing they could easily do is allow pharmacists to make simple, safe substitutions to prescriptions where an item is out of stock, and save patients having to return to their GP without medication."
What is co-codamol?
Co-codamol is a mixture of the painkillers paracetamol and codeine. It's used to treat short-term aches and pains, including headaches, muscle pain and toothache. It is available in tablets and capsules and comes in three different strengths:
- Low strength - 8mg combined with 500mg of paracetamol
- Medium strength - 15mg combined with 500mg of paracetamol
- High strength - 30mg combined with 500mg of paracetamol
The lowest strength is available to buy over-the-counter from pharmacies, but the higher strengths are only available on prescription.
If you have any concerns over the medication shortage, speak to a healthcare professional. You can find out more about co-codamol at NHS.UK.