![The drug works “by reducing the amount of urine produced in the night by [the] kidneys”.](https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/resizer/v2/VVGF6TTGF5OERMHVCD6J3ZRSEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a907f4a198bc047e595b4874205ee1abc1591d77ed3b85e83a3654373d72ec8&width=700&height=394)
“Desmopressin 4 micrograms/1ml solution for injection ampoules are out of stock”, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) earlier this month (August 1) announced.
The medicine is “commonly used to treat bedwetting” and diabetes insipidus, a “rare condition where [patients] pee a lot and often feel thirsty”, according to the NHS and NHS North Tees and Hartlepool.
Read more: Pharmacists warned of ‘invalid’ claims as SSP issued for popular heart drug
The drug works “by reducing the amount of urine produced in the night by [the] kidneys” and “can be used both short term – for example school trips or sleepovers – and long term,” it said.
CPE said that a medicine supply notification issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) warned that the drug will be “out of stock from early August”.
It added that supply would be short “until [the week commencing] 16th September 2024”.
Unlicensed imports “sourced”
CPE said that “unlicensed imports of desmopressin 4 micrograms/1ml solution for injection ampoules have been sourced”, but that “lead times vary”.
It listed BAP Pharma, Mawdsleys, Qmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Smartway as “specialist importers” who “have confirmed” that they can source this medication.
Meanwhile, CPE last week waned that blood pressure and heart failure drug Ramipril would be out of stock “until late-October 2024”.
Read more: Pharmacists to use ‘clinical expertise’ as nine SSPs issued for antipsychotic pills
And last month, the government issued nine SSPs for antipsychotic drug quetiapine to mitigate “ongoing supply disruptions affecting certain quetiapine tablet strengths”.
Meanwhile, CPE announced that three hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs had been discontinued, while 39 batches of an ADHD drug have been recalled.
