Tesco and Sainsbury’s among UK supermarkets to be hit by worldwide ibuprofen shortage

SUPERMARKETS are running out of ibuprofen pills due to a worldwide shortage.

Customers say they are increasingly finding empty shelves when they try to buy the painkiller.

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Many are buying paracetamol instead — causing that drug to be in short supply in some areas. News of the shortages comes in the wake of reports that chemists are running low on some prescription drugs.

Tesco said the problem was due to a “global shortage” of the active ingredient in ibuprofen medicine. It said both own-brand and some branded products are affected.

The supermarket said it was working with suppliers to manage the shortage and aims to have full availability within the next two weeks.

Sainsbury’s is also having problems, with a spokesman saying stocks of own-brand ibuprofen and paracetamol were running low.

The store has put up notices informing customers of supply issues.

Customers have reported scouring supermarkets for ibuprofen but finding only more costly brands.

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A customer named Michelle tweeted: “Over the past couple of weeks I have tried to buy in Boots, Superdrug and Tesco without success.

“The shelves are either empty or filled up with expensive brand alternatives.”

The shortages of prescription drugs, including hormone replacement therapy, anti­depressants and anti-epilepsy pills, are thought to be caused by production problems and stockpiling ahead of Brexit.

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