Urgent warning as pharmacies are on alert for shortages of Calpol, Nurofen and other common medicines

TWO of the most popular Children’s drugs for flu-like symptoms are in very short supply, chemists warn.

High street pharmacies in the UK are running out of several key medicine stores, including Calpol and Nurofen, as widespread shortages worsen.

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Cough medicines, including Benylin and Robitusson, are also a “nightmare” for many pharmacies to get hold of, The Sun has been told.

It comes just months after chemists saw widespread shortages of several antibiotics and many cold and flu drugs — including Calpol — following a Strep A outbreak.

Pharmacy bosses previously told The Sun that shortages could last “several months”.

Sri Kanaparthy, a Durham pharmacist who is struggling to replenish supplies, said shortages are now “even worse” than before.

Order forms from The Sun also showed shortages of Lemsip soda sachets and paracetamol.

dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, said the drug shortages were “widespread” and likely to affect “everyone”.

She said: “We don’t know how long these shortages will last, but it’s not getting better.

“Manufacturers tell us that the shortages are caused by the unavailability of raw materials in China and India.”

Increasing packaging costs for manufacturers and rising energy and fuel costs are leading to more expensive shipments, she explained.

In some cases, pharmacists are forced to buy medicines from manufacturers at twice the price they used to while struggling to get supplies.

dr Leyla added, “People need to realize that if they’re at the pharmacy and their medication isn’t in stock, it’s not the pharmacist’s fault.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “We know how distressing and frustrating drug supply issues can be, but we want to reassure people that we have well-established processes in place designed to prevent and manage or mitigate supply issues in the first place them when they occur.

“We work with a wide range of organizations operating in the UK medicines supply chain to provide advice and ensure patients continue to have access to safe and effective treatments.”

Calpol maker Johnson and Johnson said: “We are witnessing high consumer demand driven by a highly challenging cold and flu season.

“We recognize this is a difficult time for parents and carers and we are doing everything we can to ensure people have access to the Calpol products they need, including maximizing our manufacturing capacity.

“While products may be less readily available in some stores, we don’t have a widespread shortage of Calpol.”