UK issues shortage alerts for ramipril and propranolol blood-pressure drugs

An NHS Serious Shortage Protocol now covers ramipril 1.25 mg capsules and all other strengths, limiting dispensing to a one-month supply if patients agree, due to a nationwide shortage that runs through 30 October 2026. The shortage impacts roughly six million UK patients who rely on the drug, and pharmacists have been instructed to tell patients to arrange timely reorders with their GP or prescriber. The Department of Health & Social Care cautions against routine substitution with other ACE inhibitors or ARBs, as their lower usage could disrupt additional supply chains.

In parallel, propranolol modified-release capsules (80 mg and 160 mg) are expected to be unavailable until November 2026, and clinicians are advised not to initiate therapy with these dosages. Prescribers may consider licensed immediate-release propranolol tablets (40 mg and 80 mg), which remain in stock, but any switch must involve the patient’s prescriber. The shortages reflect a broader trend, with over 1,500 medicine shortages reported in England between May 2024 and April 2025, prompting calls for regulatory changes to allow pharmacists more flexibility in offering alternatives.