Supplies of prescription-strength co-codamol will be limited until the summer, the Scottish government has confirmed.
A UK-wide shortage of the strongest form of the painkiller – the 30/500mg dosage – is ongoing due to the Indian government delaying the authorisation to import ingredients required to make the drug there.
The Scottish government told BBC Scotland News alternative treatment options will be offered to those affected by the shortages.
However some health boards has warned that while other medicines are available, none of them can sustain the total uplift in demand that is expected.
BBC Scotland News has been contacted by people who rely on the drug, but have been informed by doctors it will not be available until June.
Jocelin Harrison was contacted by NHS Lanarkshire last week and told to begin reducing her tablets by one a week to « avoid side effects of stopping suddenly ».
She has been taking the medicine for over 30 years to help her cope with the pain caused from five spinal surgeries.
She said: « The only advice I’ve been given so far was to reduce the tablets and try to manage my withdrawal symptoms.
« I was not offered any other advice or possible replacement pain killers and it’s a great worry for me and other chronic pain sufferers throughout Scotland and the UK. »
Co-codamol contains the opiate codeine and can be addictive.
It comes in three different strengths – containing either 8mg, 15mg or 30mg of codeine, as well as 500mg of paracetamol.
The lowest strength can be purchased from pharmacies but the others need to be prescribed by a doctor.
Patients have been warned to gradually reduce their use of the painkiller as stopping altogether can bring on withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea and sweating.
It can also cause an increase in pain for people who use the drug the most.
A warning on NHS Lanarkshire’s website says that « there are other strengths of co-codamol tablets but there are not enough supplies of these to move everyone onto them. »
It adds that all patients – apart from patients having treatment for cancer – should start gradually reducing the number of tablets they take until stopping completely.
No new patients will be prescribed co-codamol until supplies begin to return to normal in June, although the health board added that this date cannot be guaranteed.
NHS Grampian has listed a similar message, saying pharmacists should « use professional judgement to prioritise stocks and quantities supplied to patients. »
However it stops short of the NHS Lanarkshire guidance that people currently taking the painkiller should begin cutting back.
BBC Scotland News understands that delayed authorisation by the Indian government regarding imports of codeine-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) – which are required for co-codamol – has led to the supply issues.
The Scottish government’s chief pharmaceutical officer Alison Strath said: « Medicine supply is a matter reserved to the UK government. We are aware of limited supplies of the commonly prescribed pain-relief medicine co-codamol and know this may cause some concern.
« Supply issues are expected until June 2026 and we are in regular contact with the UK government to seek assurances they are doing all they can to resolve this.
« We have issued advice to health boards to ensure patients affected receive accurate information and clear advice.
« We would ask that patients do not contact their GP practice or community pharmacy – instead, work is underway to identify those who may be affected, and they will be offered alternative treatment options. »
The UK government’s department of health and social care said the « vast majority » of licensed medicines were in good supply.
A spokesperson added: « We are aware that co-codamol tablets are currently in limited supply due to manufacturing issues, and are working closely with suppliers to resolve current disruptions and ensure continuity of supply.
« We are also engaged with NHS specialist clinicians and have issued comprehensive guidance on how to manage patients during this time, including advice on alternative preparations. »
Generic, non-branded medicines, such as co-codamol 30/500mg are usually manufactured in China and India, with recent stats by the manufacturer Actiza saying it exported products to over 200 countries across the world.
