Where's all the paracetamol gone?

[damekindness]

Not sure if I'm imagining this but there seems to be less and less paracetamol and other Over The Counter painkillers on the shelves in shops ? None in the local Aldi for weeks.

People are definitely stockpiling. I seem to remember that you used to be able to buy them in plastic bottles in the 100s or did I imagine that?

I've no idea whether paracetamol is affected (seems unlikely to be honest) but four separate people I know have been unable to get specific drugs due to manufacturing/supply chain issues this week. All very different medications, two for very serious conditions. All in different parts of England.

If any stores know there is going to be a shortage of medical things, then they should limit the sale of paracetamol and such, as there are always going to be those types of people, who go and buy 20 or more packets of something or other.

Yes you could @Kublai
Rules changed in 1998 apparently.
My DH has all the UK's stocks of midge repellents and bite creams, I think.
Nothing to do with stockpiling for Brexit.
More the fact he was bitten last week and he's determined it won't happen again!

Massive amounts of everything in the Midlands.

Same here in East Ayrshire, Asda has put their prices up as well but even my local Aldi seems to have a shortage

Apparently one of the major things behind medication shortages at the moment is something in China affecting the supply chains. The only impact Brexit is having is down to people stockpiling

Can't say I've noticed paracetamol being out of stock here though

The sale of paracetamol is already limited, only 2 packets per sale I think. We are in Bulgaria at the moment and needed paracetamol for 12 year old. It’s not stocked in supermarkets or shops, only pharmacies. I was asked liquid or tablet, opted for tablets £7.50 for 20 tablets!!! I bought them as we needed them but crikey

Htf do you run out of this most basic shit and not be ever so slightly concerned?
I used up my very small stock pile swag as I ran out of stuff whilst ill/hungover, will hopefully be able to replenish items.

DH just brought me loads back to France from different shops in Gloucestershire...we always stock up in the U.K. as it's so much cheaper (just over 2 euros here for 16 tablets, and you can't get them in the supermarket!). Was pleased he came back with cyclizine too as it's not available here, and I'm about to order a years supply of ceterizine!

Yes paracetamol has been stopped in the whole on prescription since the beginning of the year at my surgery. I have fibromyalgia and take them with prescribed meds.

I get 112 a fortnight (8 a day) and now have to buy them which doesn't bother me at all cost wise, it's getting only 2 packs at a time and having to go to different places to get them.

I live in the North West, there has been a noticeable shortage recently.

If it’s missing from your shop and you keep buying it you’ve answered your own question.

@Wingedharpy thanks for that. I was wondering why I couldn’t buy bottles of ibuprofen like I can in the US. Was it to prevent overdoses? I’ll stock up on large bottles of 200 — 400 tablets next time I’m back in the US. Only selling them in 16-packs in the UK seems wasteful in terms of packaging and annoying in terms of the frequency that I need them.

Shelves often bare here for paracetamol.

Brexit/prepper threads as it's so polarised and bad tempered

What the fuck do you mean by that?

no problem here in the west midlands two weeks ago. not checked since.

Where u am it's ibuprofen that's hard to get and soluble paracetamol

@S1naidSucks 😂

Always plenty in ours (North Wales) hate taking them personally.

@JingsMahBucket : Yes, it was introduced in an attempt to cut risk of overdoses.
I think it was successful too as deaths from Paracetamol related overdose fell by about 48%.
Sadly, those determined enough will still succeed of course.

I find that those of my clients that are very well traveled, educated/skilled and are very secure financially are the ones that are prepping

LOL

I've seen plenty around where I live.

Any chance your supermarket is reducing their stocking levels of ''branded paracetamol'' in readiness for putting their own ''home'' brand on the shelves?

Boots in Intu in Derby was out of 400mg Ibuprofen last week. Would the pharmacist sell me two packs of 200mg? I take 1200mg a day. No. I'm having to buy it because my GP won't prescribe it any more when I can buy it cheaper than the NHS can.

I've seen procurement at work close up in a large engineering organisation. I can only ask 'WTF is wrong with the way the NHS does procurement?'

I'm disabled with severe spinal stenosis and arthritis, BTW, it's not just 'muscle pains'. BTW again, I don't actually mind paying for this, it's the hypocrisy about it that makes me angry. I'm on Ibuprofen because the previously prescribed Naproxen was too damaging to my kidneys. Yes, I know there are many places where pharmacies can't get Naproxen either.

People are definitely stockpiling. I seem to remember that you used to be able to buy them in plastic bottles in the 100s or did I imagine that?

Yep you used to be able to buy them in bottles of 100. That stopped around 20 years ago I think