Brits forced to ration blood pressure medication for another THREE months amid serious shortages

BLOOD pressure pills are being rationed for another three months after a major shortage was first announced in April. Pharmacists must ration supplies of the life-saving medication so there is enough for all patients to get by for one month. The Government has extended a shortage warning for 1.25mg ramipril capsules, a common blood pressure medication Credit: Rex Features The shortage of the medication is due to continue for another three months Credit: Getty The government has extended the serious shortage notice for ramipril for a second time this year, warning that patients will continue to only be supplied one month’s worth of the 1.25mg capsules at a time. A shortage of the medication – which is prescribed to hundreds of thousands of people in the UK every year – was first announced in April and was first due to expire at the end of May, and then again this week. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! But yesterday the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) extended the shortage, known as a serious shortage protocol (SSP), until October 30. The medication, which can be taken as tablets, capsules or as a liquid, was ranked in the top five most dispensed drugs by pharmacies in England last year and was prescribed more than 35 million times, NHS data shows. Read more on drug shortages Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, told Sun Health today: “We are concerned by this ongoing shortage, which is one of many shortages of medicines that pharmacies and their patients have had to grapple with in recent years. “Millions of patients rely on Ramipril and although there are alternative medicines available, supplies of these must be managed carefully by the government to ensure subsequent demand can be met. “The government should allow pharmacists to make appropriate substitutions to Ramipril prescriptions to ensure patients do not have to go back to their GP to find an alternative.” Also commenting on the situation, Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA), told The Sun: “The ongoing medicines supply issues are putting a lot of pressure on pharmacists as they need to spend hours trying to source alternatives or contact the prescriber to change the medicine. Most read in Health “Patients are frustrated with the wait and it’s impacting on patient care.” Ramipril is a widely used medicine that treats high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney damage. The shortage was first announced in April and was due to expire this week Credit: PA One expert says the ongoing supply issue is putting a lot of pressure on pharmacists Credit: PA It works by widening the blood vessels and making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. The SSP for the drug was initially meant to expire towards the end of May, but it was extended again to this week, as supply issues continued. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects a third of adults and dramatically raises the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and even dementia. Because it causes no symptoms, many go undiagnosed until serious damage is done but if it’s caught early, these outcomes are preventable. An estimated 14 million UK adults now live with high blood pressure – a figure that’s steadily rising. Speaking about drug supply issues more generally, Mr Picard today said: “Pharmacies are increasingly facing supply problems affecting every day medicines on which millions rely every day, with some describing shortages as the worst they have ever experienced. “Whilst the medicine supply chain is complex, the rising problem of shortages across a wide range of medication is extremely worrying for patients and heartbreaking for pharmacists who go to great lengths to ensure they don’t turn them away. High blood pressure is described as a silent killer because it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms Credit: Getty How to lower blood pressure Persistent high blood pressure – known as hypertension – puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs and it can raise your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Here’s how to reduce it. Reduce salt Adults are recommended to limit their salt to 6g per day (around one level teaspoon) to avoid health consequences including high blood pressure. The top tip is to swap out table salt, according to the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study, replacing it with a reduced sodium and added potassium alternative. Cut down on alcohol Excessive boozing can narrow the blood vessels, which raises the risk of hypertension. Official drinking guidelines advise that people should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week to keep health risks from alcohol low. Get moving Exercise is good for the heart and the blood vessels. Although the guidelines recommend 150 minutes of activity per week, if you’re currently very inactive, just a walk to the shop every day is better than nothing, and you can work up from there. Studies suggest that isometric exercises – when you hold the body in one position without moving, such as a wall squat or plank – are best for lowering blood pressure. Stop smoking Smoking cigarettes is a killer. It makes the arteries sticky and narrow, which can cause blockages. While smoking is not a direct cause of high blood pressure, it can cause an instant rise to pressure, heart rate and reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to the body’s cells. Skip coffee Sadly, caffeine can cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure – even if you don’t have high blood pressure. Therefore cutting back on coffee is recommended as a lifestyle tip for those with hypertension. Lose weight The above tips can help you to lose weight, which is beneficial because being overweight in itself is a risk factor for hypertension. Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure. The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. “Fragility in the global supply chain is worsened by international instability and this new government must convene an urgent taskforce to fully grip this chronic problem.” It comes as the government last week extended the serious shortage notice for Creon and Estradot after major shortages were first announced over 18 months ago. Creon is given to people with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis and people with these conditions require Creon to be able to digest food as it helps to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins. The medication has been in short supply since May 2024. And Estradot is a form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which is used to combat menopause symptoms. The shortage of 25 microgram patches, 50 microgram patches, 75 microgram patches and 100 microgram patches has been extended until October 2. Sun Health reported last month that drug shortages had reached a record high in England with one pharmacist saying it was the “worst” he’d ever known. According to Community Pharmacy England, May was the “second consecutive month” where the number of medicines on the price concessions list reached “record highs”. Amid this situation, there are a handful of medications that are particularly at risk of facing supply issues – from certain beta-blockers to antidepressants. Meanwhile, Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England warned in March that the health service could run out of medicines and critical supplies because of the Middle East war. And Dr Hannbeck today said supply issues with ramipril and other medicines could continue due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. She said: “The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) keep saying there are no issues with supply, but on the front line there is a different story.” The Sun approached the DHSC for comment. Comment now