Patient living in 'horrific pain' due to UK-wide drugs shortage
Summary
A UK-wide shortage of Nabilone, a drug used to manage symptoms of multiple sclerosis, has left Northern Ireland patient Jill Kenning without her usual treatment. She says alternatives have not controlled her pain, while the Northern Ireland Department of Health says the drug is not expected to return to stock until December.Key Facts
- Kenning has used Nabilone for 17 of the 18 years since her MS diagnosis.
- She ran out of the drug last Tuesday and says she has spent much of her time in bed with severe eye pain.
- Kenning said replacement medication had not worked well and she had spent several nights in hospital.
- Northern Ireland's Department of Health said both licensed doses of Nabilone were out of stock with wholesalers across the UK.
- The department said the 1mg capsules shortage began in July, and the 0.25mg strength became unavailable more recently.
- The department said Nabilone was not expected to be available again until December.
- Health officials said they were working with UK authorities and health trusts and had issued guidance on alternative treatments, including unlicensed imports where available.
- A MIMS tracker showed 157 medicines in short supply in the UK this week, compared with 107 in January.
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