Apixaban shortage?

[Samazeuilh2]

I went to collect my monthly prescription this afternoon but was not able to obtain Apixaban (5mg). The pharmacist was not very clear on what the problem was, but said “it doesn’t just affect us”. I will be given some 2.5mg tablets tomorrow. Does anyone know if there is a national shortage or some sort of supply problem? It’s worrying when such an important medicine is difficult to obtain.

[BobD Volunteer]

This sort of thing is not uncommon mainly due to the logistics of the way pharma companies operate. They tend to make batches of a product. clear the line and then switch to a different product etc. If demand hits a high when stocks are low this happens. I can think of at least five drugs this year which have suffered in this way but it is almost always a very short term problem. The secret is to always put in your repeat prescription almost as soon as you have collected your previous months.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to BobD]

At our surgery we're not allowed to ask for a repeat prescription more than 10 days before the medication is due.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to jeanjeannie50]

If I waited that long here I would be in deep doo doo. The system is dreadful and unless I give them at least a fortnight I end up waiting for hours. Mind you it may be getting better since Lloyds packed up.

[bantam12]

My last Apixaban prescription took a while to be done because they couldn’t get Eliquis so I was given Sandoz brand instead. There wasn’t any report online of shortages.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to bantam12]

Is there a website where information on medicine shortages is provided?

[bantam12 in reply to Samazeuilh2]

There are several websites, cpe.org.uk is one of them.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to bantam12]

Thanks!