Supply of unlicensed Propranolol modified-release capsules

A medicine supply notification (MSN) was issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in November 2025 to inform pharmacy teams of a shortage affecting Propranolol 80mg and 160mg modified release capsules. Since the publication of the MSN, the Medicines Supply Tool hosted on the Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) website has been updated with an estimated re-supply date showing as early August 2026.

Prescribers are advised not to initiate patients on Propranolol 80mg or 160mg modified release capsules due to their unavailability. As an alternative, the MSN recommends prescribers to consider the licensed immediate release Propranolol 40mg and 80mg tablets which remain available and can support an increase in demand.

Whilst specialist importers can source unlicensed Propranolol 80mg or 160mg modified release capsules, prescribers are advised to consider these only where licensed alternatives are not appropriate. Wholesalers will indicate on their online ordering portals if the product listed is an unlicensed special for example by including ‘SP‘ for Special or ‘NPL‘ for No Product License. The unlicensed Propranolol 80mg or 160mg modified release capsules can only be dispensed against prescriptions requesting the unlicensed import. For example, if the unlicensed product is required, prescribers should select either of the following products on their systems:

• Propranolol 80mg modified-release capsules (Imported); or
• Propranolol 160mg modified-release capsules (Imported)

Where the unlicensed product is not shown on electronic prescribing systems (for example, because prescribing system suppliers have not ‘mapped’ across the appropriate products by using the latest dm+d extract), prescribers should issue a paper prescription and annotate the prescription with the following wording ‘Special Order’ or ‘Imported’ next to the prescribed item for example, ‘Propranolol 160mg modified-release capsules (Special Order)’.

This will ensure that pharmacy teams can legally supply the unlicensed product and be reimbursed accordingly based on the dispenser endorsements including the ‘SP’ endorsement to claim the £20 fixed fee for dispensing a non-Drug Tariff special. Paper prescriptions for unlicensed products must be placed in the relevant red separators during end of month submission process.

Community Pharmacy England is aware of situations where the prescriber includes directions to supply an unlicensed special as part of the dosage area field or as additional information. Any supplementary product information added to electronic prescriptions in this way is not captured by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) during prescription pricing therefore pharmacy teams should request replacement prescriptions which are correctly written by the prescriber.

Example EPS prescriptions for unlicensed propranolol modified-release capsules

Incorrectly issued prescription for  Propranolol 80mg modified-release capsules	Correctly issued prescription for Propranolol 80mg modified-release capsules

Example paper prescriptions for unlicensed propranolol modified-release capsules

Incorrectly issued prescription for   Propranolol 80mg modified-release capsules	Correctly issued prescription for Propranolol 80mg modified-release capsules

Prescription endorsement requirements for non-Drug Tariff specials

The following endorsements are required for prescriptions for an unlicensed product (special or import) which is not listed in the Drug Tariff and has been sourced under a manufacturer’s specials/importer’s licence issued by the MHRA:

• Amount dispensed over pack size used;
• Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
• Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA license number;
• Batch number of the product supplied;
• SP — for costs incurred in obtaining the item

Related resources

Dealing with product information within the dose area

Funding & Reimbursement Shorts: Handling prescriptions with supplementary product information