TAM (Treatments and Medicines) NHS Highland
This is a list of formulary medicines that have long-term shortages for which alternative guidance is in place.
This information will be stated in the shortage log. See link above.
Medicine shortages
Warning
To find information quickly, use:
- Medicines shortage log (NHS Highland intranet access required).
An A-Z list of current shortages affecting NHS Highland with advice on how to manage them and links to the relevant national documents below.
Other information resources:
- SPS Medicines Supply Tool (Log in required. All prescribers & pharmacy professionals are encouraged to register)
Specialist Pharmacy Service information on the management of current shortages for Primary and Secondary Care.
Go to the 'Tools' tab and then click on the 'Medicines Supply' option.
NB: some of the recommended actions may not always be appropriate / relevant within the Scottish context. - Central Alerting Sytem (CAS)
NHS Scotland system for issuing patient safety alerts, important public health messages and other safety critical information, such as shortages information and Scottish SSPs. - Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPS)
A list of Serious Shortages Protocols published by the NHS Business Services Authority for NHS England. - NSS Medicines Supply Alert Notice (MSAN)
Provides advice where there is specific Scottish context for an MSN.
For published MSANs, see See the SHOW website. (To show only MSANs, use the search option and type MSAN). - Medicine Supply Notification (MSN)
Advice suitable for Primary Care produced by Community Pharmacy England.
Remember, if the medication is not available, alternative medications to consider may be listed in the Highland Formulary.
| Resolved Shortage | Formulary monograph | Date listed |
| Aztreonam |
Other beta-lactam antibiotics (Formulary) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk) (Also: AMT160, 105, 180, 177, 166, 121, 119, 176) |
June 2024 |
| Levofloxacin |
Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) (Antimicrobial) | Right Decisions Other antibacterials for specialist use only (Formulary) | Right Decisions |
26/03/25 to 26/06/25 |
See Medicines Shortages (NHS Highland intranet access required) for information on
- Secondary Care algorithm for managing medicine shortages. (NHS Highland intranet access required).
- NHS England Continuity of supply FAQs.
For Primary Care, see: Medicines Shortages – NHS Highland
Specialist Pharmacy Service online Medicines Supply Tool provides up-to-date information about medicine supply issues. You can use it to search for information on medicine supply issues by drug class, issue severity, or by new, ongoing, or resolved. You can also check when a medicine is expected to be back in stock.
Tool content is populated and maintained by the DHSC and NHSE CMU Medicines Supply teams.
New issues week ending 3rd Jan 2025
Discontinuations:
Shortages:
- Aprepitant 80mg capsules
- Diltiazem (Angitil SR) 180mg capsules
- Isosorbide mononitrate 10mg, 20mg and 40mg tablets (immediate-release)
- Prednisolone 20mg/100ml rectal solution
- Taptiqom 15micrograms/ml / 5mg/ml eye drops 0.3ml unit dose
- Tolterodine (Mariosea XL) 2mg and 4mg prolonged-release capsules
Updates to continuing issues this week
- ADHD medicines overview
We have produced a list of available and affected medicines used to treat ADHD, with links to individual posts for affected products where necessary. - GLP-1 receptor agonist overview
We have produced a list of available and affected GLP-1 receptor agonists, with links to NatPSA and individual supply entry posts for affected products. - HRT Overview
We have produced a list of available and affected HRT products, with links to individual posts for affected products where necessary. - PERTs overview
We have produced an overview to support prescribing and ordering of available pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies, with links to NatPSA and individual supply entry posts for affected products.
The following individual posts have been updated: Pancrex V products
Other updates
- Fluocinonide (Metosyn FAPG) 0.05% w/w cream
Anticipated resupply of Metosyn FAPG 0.05% cream (Reig Jofre UK Ltd) 100-gram date changed from 3 to 10 January 2025 - Isosorbide mononitrate 60mg modified-release tablets and capsules
Nyzamac SR 60mg capsules (Martindale Pharmaceuticals Ltd) status changed from resolved to unavailable, anticipated resupply date 17 January 2025 - Norethisterone 350microgram tablets
Anticipated resupply date changed from 6 to 27 December 2024 - Norethisterone 1mg/ ethinylestradiol 35microgram (Norimin) tablets
Anticipated resupply date changed from 6 December 2024 to 14 February 2025 - Olanzapine (Zypadhera) 210 mg powder and solvent for prolonged release suspension for injection
Anticipated resupply date for Olanzapine (Zypadhera) 210 mg powder and solvent for prolonged release suspension for injection has been changed from 27 December 2024 to 29 March 2025