Dublin pharmacies are "reasonably prepared" for the approaching hay fever season - but some sprays and other medication will be out of stock.
This week, The Medicine Shortages Index has found there are 247 medicines used by Irish patients currently out of stock, which includes some hay fever sprays, 11 different eye drop products, inhalers, and some antibiotics. It is an increase of 19 medicines out of stock, which is a 38% increase since the index began last October.
The latest shortages analysis indicates a new trend of medicines that are stored or delivered using plastic components are now increasingly in short supply. In recent months, the shortages have been blamed on supply issues as winter illnesses griped the nation.
Read more: Cost of living Ireland: Government package slammed as 'too little, too late' by Labour TD
However, this spring it is also still difficult to get a hold of antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Penicillin, and there are concerns that hay fever medication like nasal sprays and eye drops may be in short supply in some areas.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen from plants, usually when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. According to the HSE, hay fever is usually worse between late March and September. With hay fever season just around the corner, Dublin Live asked pharmacies in the Talbot Street area how their supplies are faring heading into hay fever season.
Pharmacy O'Regan has five locations in the country with pharmacies on Talbot Street, Balbriggan, Tallaght, and Clontarf, and Newbridge in Co Kildare.
Its location on Talbot Street is a familiar sight to many, and staff told Dublin Live that they are "reasonably prepared" for hayfever season which is usually at its worst mid-March.
Manager Catherine said: "We have plenty of supplies for hay fever medication at the moment. We heard other pharmacies don't have certain sprays, but we seem to have it all thankfully.
"But hay fever season usually kicks in mid-March, so it is possible that us and other pharmacies may see a surge in demand for nasal sprays and eye drops and anti-histamines which many people get for hay fever."
Meanwhile, Murray's AllCare Pharmacy on Talbot Street said that they had to change one nasal spray product, but that they believe they have everything they could need for the spring weather. They said: "We had to get one different spray brand in because we couldn't get supply for another one, but otherwise shortages haven't really reached us yet."
It comes as Azure Pharmaceuticals who prepared the medicines shortage index warned that Ireland is still experiencing medicine supply issues. Azure Pharmaceuticals Sandra Gannon warned that medicines shortages are "not just winter specific."
She said: "There’s an awareness in other European countries that market related factors need to be tackled.
"Medicines shortages are not just winter specific, and shortages are not only occurring as a result of exceptional circumstances. There are systemic factors that need resolution.
“Each patient has different needs and reducing the problem down to exceptional circumstances alone diminishes the quality of life impact that each patient experiences with their illness," she added.
The IPU's President Dermot Twomey previously told RTE that further shortages are expected to hit Ireland. Supply issues predominantly affect antibiotics, but it is likely the issue will spill over and hit other medications.
To check out the full list of medicines that are in short supply in Ireland, click here.
READ NEXT:
- Irish dad opens up on rare 'Celtic Curse' blood disorder
- Brave Dublin teen thanks Late Late Show viewers for raising €325,000 for Debra Ireland
- Dublin pharmacist warns against stockpiling amid surge in demand for Calpol
- Family fear homelessness as they face eviction from their home of 60 years, Dail told
First-ever Holi celebrations set to take place in north Dublin
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
