Parkinson's medication: supply update

Getting your prescription

Pharmaceutical companies have shared they are facing supply problems with some medicines. Please check with your local pharmacy, as they may have your usual medicine in stock. 

However, if your area does have supply shortages you may not be able to get your usual prescription.

Alternatives may be suitable. Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss this with you.

Parkinson's drugs: current shortages 

Updated 16 December 2024

Teva Pharmaceuticals

• Amantadine 50mg/5ml syrup 150ml will experience supply problems until mid-December 2024.
• Co-careldopa 25mg/250mg tablets x 100 will experience supply issues until February 2025.
• Rivastigmine 13.3mg/24hr transdermal patches will experience supply problems until mid-February 2025.

Ennogen Healthcare

• Carbidopa/entacapone/levodopa 12.5mg/200mg/50mg tablets x 30 will experience supply problems until late December 2024.
• Carbidopa/entacapone/levodopa 18.75mg/200mg/75mg tablets x 30 will experience supply problems until late December 2024.
• Carbidopa/entacapone/levodopa 31.25mg/200mg/125mg tablets x 30 will experience supply problems until late February 2025.

Why the UK has medicine supply issues

The UK has some specific challenges, but the NHS is not alone in experiencing drug shortages. A recent European Association of Hospital Pharmacists survey reported that 95% of hospital pharmacists across Europe were experiencing shortages.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) points to a combination of factors including:

• post pandemic factors
• global supply chain issues.

UK-specific challenges are reported to include:

• post-Brexit costs and paperwork
• a voluntary NHS annual spending cap on branded medicines.

For doctors and pharmacists

Please seek advice from your NHS pharmacy procurement specialist or the Specialist Pharmacy Service.

Staying up to date with supply issues

We'll post updates as pharmaceutical companies share them with us. They'll let us know what action they're taking to make sure medications are available for people with Parkinson's.