Information collected through this survey will be used to alert healthcare professionals across the UK and to resolve issues, where possible.

New and ongoing medicine supply issues in dermatology

We will collate new, ongoing and resolved supply problems in the list below:

• Items with supply problems:
  • 5-Methoxypsoralen tablets
  • Abrocitinib (Cibinqo®, Northern Ireland only)
  • Aldara® 5% cream 250 mg
  • Bactroban 2% ointment
  • Balneum 3% 5% cream
  • Bascellex® 50 mg/g cream 250 mg
  • Canesten® 1%, hydrocortisone (as acetate) 1% (30 g cream)
  • ClobaDerm® 500 micrograms/g cream
  • Cocois® 12%, 4%, 2% ointment (100 g)
  • Dalacin® topical lotion 10 mg/ml aqu lotion (60 ml)
  • Enbrel® (25 mg powder and solvent for solution in pre-filled pens)
  • Betnovate® 0.122% cream (100 g)
  • Daktarin® 2% cream (30 g)
  • Efudix® 5% cream
  • Permethrin (Lyclear®)
  • Warticon® 0.15% cream
  • Zyclara® 3.75 % cream

• Items with resolved previous problems:
  • 8-Methoxypsoralen bath lotion
  • Actikerall® cutaneous solution
  • Betnovate® RD 0.025% ointment
  • Betnovate® RD 0.025% cream
  • Betnovate® 0.122% ointment (30 g)
  • Cimetidine
  • Daktarin® 2% cream
  • Derbac-M®
  • Dermovate® NN cream
  • Eumovate® cream
  • Eumovate 0.05% cream
  • Erythromycin
  • Fluocinolone (0.025% ointment x 30 g and 100 g)
  • Ketoconazole 2% shampoo (Dandrazole®)
  • Ketotifen tablets
  • Ketotifen elixir
  • Lidocaine 1% with adrenaline
  • Methylprednisolone acetate (40 mg/ml, 3 ml vial x 10)
  • Naltrexone tablet (50 g)
  • Permethrin (other products)
  • Propantheline  tablet (15 mg)
  • Psoriderm® Cream
  • Rifinah®300 mg/150 mg tablet
  • Trimovate®
  • Zyclara®

• Items discontinued:
  • Calmurid
  • Capsaicin cream (0.025 g, 0.075 g)
  • Dithrocream®
  • Hibiscrub® (replacement available as Hibiwash®)
  • Nalcrom® (generic available)
  • Nerisone® Forte
  • Orabase® oral protective paste
  • Psoriderm® Bath
  • Selsun® (selenium sulfide) 2.5% shampoo
  • Tisept®

Further information on discontinuation of medicines may be available on the Specialist Pharmacy Services website and the NHS dm+d website.

Dermatology Special Medicines

Dermatology prescribing typically involve licensed medicines that meet safety and efficacy standards. However, licensed options for common skin conditions remain limited. As a result, dermatologists can rely on unlicensed topical treatments (known as ‘Specials’), containing various active ingredients in a range of concentrations and bases. The lack of price controls and independent quality checks has led to increased costs and quality concerns. To address these issues and enhance quality of patient care, we encourage adherence to the revised British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) list of preferred Specials (2018).