Shortages, Fybogel

[Desperate2023]

I've hunted around by car and phone every chemist within a few miles of where we live but have not been able to get hold of Fybogel

Is there some kind of distribution or manufacturing problem?

Can you find an alternative?

I have lactulose on repeat prescription.

Good question, I hope not, one of the few things I can take whilst pregnant and I have struggled to find it recently and I've just run out again!

Yep, work in a pharmacy and we've only been able to get lemon flavoured boxes of 30 for a while. However we have been able to get the generic Ispaghula husk which is basically fybogel without the pretty box... though it is quite expensive from our suppliers as they know fybogel is unavailable.

I was going to suggest generic Ispaghula husk. You can get it on Amazon if desperate.

If not pregnant I recommend dulcoease, NOT Dulcolax, which is definitely effective…far too effective ime!

Yes, this was listed in the paper today as one of the things pharmacies can't currently source.

Yes,my mum couldn't get any on prescription in December. The alternative was lactulose,which made her very ill.
I found some on eBay,it was exactly the same as Fybogel,but not packaged under the same name. I also bought her some Ispaghula husk from Amazon,which should last her a few months.

Thanks all
I'm just over 60 and get the lemon one - the Husk thing GP suggested today - thankfully just tuning 60 means I now don't have to pay -

I've just looked on a web auction site and some are selling Fybogel for 30 quid for a pack of 30 -

For me even Fybogel is hit/miss but we will see

Yes there has been a shortage for a while, but I’ve been able to get some in Boots recently, so hopefully it will soon be available.

They have the tablet ones where I am, anyone know if they’re the same? I wasn’t sure.

Psyllium husk is pretty effective, and you can get it from Amazon.

I need to take it every day on prescription. Yes, there are supply problems. Apparently it's distributed from Southern Ireland. Fortunately I have a month's supply in excess. After that I don't know what I'll do because I have to take it for my diverticulosis.

Fybogel is literally just psyllium husk with added flavouring. Ispaghula husk is another name for psyllium.

Buy psyllium husk from Amazon, Holland & Barrett or loads of places online and add it to squash. Job done.

Thank you.

Are there still shortages - i've had to take a husk type of organge thing not working

Yes still shortages. Wasn't in prescription today when I collected from pharmacy

thank you @Underthesea65

The latest update is it is no longer being manufactured so anyone on prescription like me are stuffed, literally. I'll have to hunt around for an alternative. Be very careful ordering from Amazon because you may be getting something that isn't what it says it is! I've got diverticulosis so I'll have to do trial and error in what is as effective as Ispachula husk.I always eat plenty of fibre foods but its trial and error because eating too much gives me diarrhea, too little constipation, and as my bowel has moved and narrowed because of the diverticuli scarring that's pretty dangerous.

Gosh I’m shocked! It’s such a staple item!

What about milled chia? That behaves the same way, as does flax, but obviously with inflamed bowel I don’t know whether it’s too irritating.

This does seem mad, its been around for years and years.

Found a Reddit thread titled Have Fybogel sachets in the UK been discontinued by the manufacturer? where someone emailed the manufacturer and there is also talk of an alternative.

I've emailed the manufacturer numerous times but they never reply to me. It's distributed from Ireland. I checked on line this morning and the latest is it isn't being produced anymore. Could be worse, like salbutomol or diamorphine which are also in very short supply, so if you have asthma or serious pain it's just a terrible state of affairs! I think I'll try Holland and Barrett for a first stop and see what they have.

I have diverticulosis. I wasn't prescribed anything, but told to stay ahem "regular" by taking in more fibre. So as others have mentioned I use milled flax and chia seed on my porridge (Winter) and Weetabix (Summer) and it works great for me anyway. Hardly notice it's there, and I also add it to my daily smoothie.

I know there are people out there who absolutely need the prescribed stuff, so it looks like psyllium husk in juice will do the same thing as Fybogel.

I have 59 sachets of orange if anyone wants it? Expires 1/11/26. Happy to post if postage costs are covered.

It's available on Amazon - 60 orange sachets for £19.09, next day delivery.