shortages

[Hoochybaby]

I have had problems getting zopiclone all the major chemists including Boots had none this is in West Yorkshire and Leeds I eventually tracked down a supply in a small independent pharmacy the shortage is down to Brexit most of the drugs are made in the eu put the blame on to Johnson lies

[ChrisColumbus]

I find that Boots and the supermarket pharmacies are often the first to run out and the last to replenish. This will of course often be because they are the first port of call, but I suspect (possibly completely wrongly) that they also don't have a very flexible supply chain.

But I'm sure that the basic problem could be as you say - that's why the government denies that there's a major problem 🤨

Although I have heard some rumours of shortages in EU countries as well

[Madlegs1 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

We ,in Ireland,are also experiencing shortages.😢

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Madlegs1]

I thought that I'd heard that. I wondered how much - if any - of your stock came from (or used to come through) the UK?

This Irish Times piece from 2020, which talks of the strengths of the Irish pharmaceutical industry, does say in passing "Brexit is out there as well, and we have to look at its potential impacts.”

irishtimes.com/special-repo...

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Madlegs1]

Unfortunately I can't read the whole of this later (subscriber only) Irish Times article from this January, but I note it says that "The Irish Pharmacy Union recently surveyed its members on the issue and 97 per cent of respondents felt the shortages were getting worse and 86 per cent expected that pattern to continue."

irishtimes.com/health/2023/...

I can't see whether it implies that this is a pan-European problem or a local one?

[Madlegs1 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

The general feeling from inet research ,seems to be increased demand due to COVID.

Especially in China and India.

I suspect international logistics is also a factor.

[Strike26]

I raised this several months ago along with others. There are supply issues in the EU, but nothing like here, at times regionally and at others nationally. Kamsons, mainly based in the SE, 77 pharmacies have a poster up in many (all) branches, asking people to write to their MP about the supply problems- they are very definitely identifying Brexit as the issue. It is, but also the disruption to the supply chain as many of the drugs are manufactured in India and neighbouring countries.

[Rameau]

A DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) notice dated 3rd February stated:

Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets are out of stock from 30th January until mid-February 2023.

Certain brands of zopiclone 7.5mg tablets, which include a break line and can be halved into equal doses, remain available and can support a full uplift in demand.

If the above option is unsuitable, zolpidem 5mg tablets remain available.

I don't know of any updates since then.