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Warning over looming 'shortage' of common paracetamol in the UK

This month the Department of Health and Social Care issued a medicines supply notice warning co-codamol 30mg/500mg will be in limited supply from early February, and the NHS advised prescribers not to start new patients while informing community pharmacist teams.
Because co-codamol contains paracetamol and codeine, the NHS warns alternatives and other co-codamol formulations cannot fully support the expected demand for patients with short-term moderate pain.
Prescribers are advised to switch existing patients on co-codamol to paracetamol 500mg tablets where appropriate and avoid abrupt cessation, per North London Integrated Care Board guidance.
Patients will face harder access to co-codamol prescriptions, increasing reliance on other pain options, while community pharmacist teams receive notifications to manage care, The Pharmacist said.
The NHS advised prescribers not to start new patients on co-codamol, which affects those using it for short-term moderate pain, with guidance issued this month and a shortage expected until July 2026.

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