Scotland's supplies of prescription co-codamol limited until June

Some health boards have told people using the painkiller to begin reducing their tablets by one a week.

Scotland faces a shortage of co-codamol 30/500mg tablets until June, caused by delays in importing codeine-based active pharmaceutical ingredients from India. Patients are advised to gradually reduce intake to avoid withdrawal symptoms, and no new prescriptions will be issued until the issue is resolved. Health boards express concern over the adequacy of alternative treatments to meet demand.

GPs have been advised not to start new patients on co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets due to a national shortage of the painkiller. The Department of Health and Social Care has issued guidance telling prescribers to avoid initiating anyone on the tablets until the supply problem is resolved, and to consider other options where appropriate.

Supplies of co-codamol will be limited until summer, the Scottish Government has confirmed. There is currently a UK-wide shortage of the prescription-strength painkiller due to the Indian government delaying the authorisation to import ingredients required to make the drug.

The Department of Health and Social Care has advised GPs not to start new patients on co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets due to a national shortage expected to last until June. Prescribers are encouraged to consider alternative treatments and to avoid abrupt cessation of therapy for existing patients to prevent withdrawal symptoms.