What to do if your medication isn't available

The most important thing to remember is that you must speak with your doctor or pharmacist about alternatives if you cannot get your regular medicine.

Hussain Abdeh, a superintendent pharmacist, based in Greater Manchester, and Scott McDougall, co-founder of The Independent Pharmacy, explain more.

"High demand may account for why certain medicines are unavailable, especially if it is a medicine to treat a very common condition," Abdeh says. "Buying patterns of certain medicines can also spike at certain times of the year, causing stock issues along the way."

He adds that local shortages can also be experienced at pharmacies, so it's always a good idea to check if your medicine is available at another pharmacy.

Don't stop taking your meds

It's important you continue taking your prescribed medicine. If you cannot get your usual prescription you will need to find alternatives. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to help with that.

"In cases where an alternative form of the same medicine is not available, a different medicine with similar properties will be recommended," he explains. "This alternative will be a treatment for the same condition and a qualified medical professional will check to make sure that it is safe for you to take."

Pharmacist or doctor?

Who you contact about your missing medicine depends on the type of medicine you usually take. If it's a prescription, your doctor or practice nurse will need to issue you with a new prescription, but if it's over-the-counter medicine then your pharmacist is your best bet.

Abdeh adds that pharmacists often stock a 'like for like' version of medicines, so if your version isn't available another version could be provided. In the instance where there is not a like-for-like alternative, the pharmacist may need to request an alternative prescription from your doctor.

"Firstly, your doctor will need to authorise a new prescription for you to change prescription medicines," he says. "Secondly, they will have access to your medical history and will be able to make certain that the new medicine is safe for you to take. However in most cases the pharmacist is able to dispense a similar medicine to treat your condition."

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Danger zone

It goes without saying that stopping medication can put your health in jeopardy, so it's very important you find an alternative to your regular prescription if it's not available.

"To effectively treat or control a condition, it is vital that you always take your medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has instructed you," Abdeh says.

"You should never stop taking a medicine before you finish your course of treatment as laid out by your doctor. Doing this may mean that you have not fully cured the problem, which means that the problem may come back again."

He adds that you may also experience unpleasant side effects and withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking your medicine.

McDougall explains that the health hazards of stopping your medicine depend on the type of prescription you usually take. If you're unsure, pharmacists can advise you on this.

Generic is just as good

There's a common misconception that generic versions of a drug aren't as effective, or won't treat your condition as successfully.

But actually, generic drugs are just as effective, have no more side effects and are often cheaper for the NHS.

He adds: "However, some medicines must be prescribed as a specific brand. For these medicines, there are very narrow margins between a safe and a toxic dose, so even small changes can be dramatic.

"Thankfully, there are very few medicines that fall into this category, and pharmacists are aware of this. As a result, they can ensure that people are kept on the right brand of medicine for their condition."

Abdeh advises you should always tell your doctor or pharmacist about other medicines you are taking if your prescription needs to be swapped.

"This includes medicine that you can buy without a prescription, like herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements," he says. "If you know that you are allergic to certain substances, or if you have a medical - or family - history of any serious health problems, make sure they know straightaway."