Patients face continuing Parkinson’s disease drug shortages, warns charity
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Shortages of Parkinson’s disease medicines in the UK are set to continue, prompting a leading charity to insist it is trying to ensure the Government “does all it can to solve supply problems”.
Parkinson’s UK warned numerous pharmaceutical companies are experiencing “supply issues” with various drugs, listing where the problems lie on its website.
It said Teva Pharmaceuticals’ issues supplying procyclidine 5mg tablets x28 will last until late June 2026, Erastig (rivastigmine) 13.3mg/24 hours transdermal patches until early in the month and Ropinirole 0.25mg tablets and Ropinirole 2mg tablets until early September 2026.
Parkinson’s UK said Aspire Pharma was currently experiencing supply issues with Repinex XL (ropinirole) 2mg, 4mg and 8mg x28 extended release tablets.
Medicines provided by Boehringer Ingelheim that will experience supply issues until June 2026 include Mirapexin (pramipexole) 0.088mg, 0.18mg, 0.35mg, 0.7mg, 0.26mg, 0.52mg, 1.05mg, 1.57mg, 2.1mg, 2.62mg and 3.15mg tablets.
Sinemet CR 25mg/100mg tablets and Sinemet 25mg/100mg tablets supplied by Organon will experience supply issues until late this month.
Stanek (Carbidopa/Entacapone/Levodopa) 31.25 mg/200mg/125mg tablets x30 and 43.75mg/200mg/175mg tablets x30 will experience supply issues until August 2026 and July 2026 respectively.
APO-go (apomorphine hydrochloride) pre-filled syringes (PFS), supplied by Britannia, were discontinued and have not been available since September 2025. However, APO-go POD (apomorphine hydrochloride hemihydrate) 100mg/20ml solution for infusion cartridges remain available.
“We are working with other organisations to make sure the government does all it can to solve medicine supply problems,” Parkinson’s UK said, promising to post updates on supply as soon as pharmaceutical companies share those with them.
“They'll let us know what action they're taking to make sure medications are available for people with Parkinson's,” the charity said.
As an independent pharmacy, how are shortages of Parkinson’s disease medicines impacting you and your patients? Let us know by emailing neil.trainis@1530.com