Acetazolamide is a product which has suffered major shortages worldwide over the last few years. The average market price of the 250mg 112 tablet pack fell from over £75 ten years ago, to a low of £15.43 in May 2020, and then rose to a peak of £24.18 in November 2024.
Over the same period there has been a consistent rise in the standard deviation or range of prices on offer to Pharmacies and Dispensing Doctors. This should indicate a rising degree of healthy competition, were it not for the Reimbursement Price. Before 2016 this left a healthy profit for Pharmacies, but since then each pack has been dispensed at a loss. Before the current disruption Pharmacies were losing an average £18.00 each time they dispensed a pack. With Pharmacies already under considerable financial pressure, they may be tempted to not dispense this product.
In February the average price fell dramatically from £22.78 to £16.06, and then in April to £9.71. So far in May the average price has recovered to a high £35.66. This price swing suggests to us that a more serious shortage may be around the corner, and that Pharmacy reticence and supplier difficulties may kill this product.