# Medicine out of stock: how to find the next solution

Your medicine is out of stock. Check local supply, medicine shortages and alternatives, and agree on a solution before your remaining medicine runs out.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/medisin-utsolgt-legemiddelmangel
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T22:17:46.546+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T22:17:46.603616+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Local stock and national shortages An empty pharmacy does not necessarily mean the medicine has disappeared from the whole market.
- Check before you run out Ask the pharmacy to check other pharmacies and alternatives while you still have medicine left.
- Doctor for necessary treatment changes A different active ingredient or another treatment must be assessed by a doctor.

When your medicine is out of stock, ask the pharmacy to check other pharmacies and possible alternatives. An empty local stock does not always mean a medicine shortage across Norway. Agree on the next step with the pharmacy or doctor before you run out.

## Is an out-of-stock medicine the same as a medicine shortage?

No. One pharmacy may lack the product locally while other pharmacies or wholesalers still have it. A medicine shortage concerns problems supplying a particular medicine.

Start by asking whether the problem affects this pharmacy or a larger part of the market. A **wholesaler** is the company that supplies medicines to pharmacies. The pharmacy can check whether it can order the product from there.

Direktoratet for medisinske produkter, the Norwegian Medical Products Agency (**DMP**), monitors supply problems in Norway. As of **7 October 2026**, DMP's shortage overview is based on reports from suppliers. It does not show the stock at each individual pharmacy. A report does not automatically mean you will be left without treatment either.

See [DMP's shortage overview for patients and healthcare professionals](https://www.dmp.no/forsyningssikkerhet/legemiddelmangel/oversikt-over-legemiddelmangel---for-pasienter-og-helsepersonell). You can use it as information when talking to the pharmacy.

SamfunnPrep's [guide to pharmacies and prescriptions](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/apotek-og-resept-norge) explains who is responsible for prescriptions, dispensing and advice.

## What should you ask the pharmacy first?

Ask the pharmacy to check the correct medicine, strength and pack size. Also explain when you need your next supply.

The medicine may be available in a different pack size even if the exact pack on your prescription is out of stock. It may also be only one particular brand that is missing. The pharmacist must assess which alternatives fit your prescription.

You can use this short list:

- Do other pharmacies have the product in stock?
- Can you order it from a wholesaler?
- Is there an approved alternative under my prescription?
- What is the earliest date the product could be available?
- Do I need to contact my doctor now?

Say how much you have left and whether you are going away. The pharmacy can then assess the solution against your actual needs. Ask for a realistic delivery update, rather than just confirmation that an order has been sent.

[Apotekforeningen's advice on medicine shortages](https://www.apotek.no/apotekbes%C3%B8ket/legemidler-i-apotek/legemiddelmangel-i-norge) explains that pharmacies can check other pharmacies, wholesalers and alternative packs. If none of those provides a solution, you may need to contact a doctor.

## How do you find a pharmacy with the medicine in stock?

Use pharmacy websites or ask the pharmacy to check availability. Before travelling, check that the result is for the same strength and dosage form.

**Dosage form** means, for example, a tablet, capsule, liquid medicine or cream. Medicines with the same active ingredient can have different forms. A stock result is therefore useful only if it concerns an alternative you can actually be given.

Consider calling the pharmacy to confirm the stock. Also ask whether you can reserve the product and how long it would be held. Do not assume an online stock display means a pack is waiting for you.

If another pharmacy has it, check that your prescription can be used there. Explain any practical difficulties, such as transport or somebody collecting it for you. A long journey may be unnecessary before these questions are settled.

Finding stock online does not tell you how much to buy either. DMP recommends collecting medicine in good time, but not buying more packs than you need.

## Can the pharmacy give you a different pack or strength?

In some cases, the pharmacy can solve a shortage with an equivalent medicine, a different pack size or a foreign pack. Other changes may require your doctor to assess the treatment.

Ask for a clear explanation before you start taking the new medicine:

| Possible solution | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Another brand in the same substitution group | That it replaces the old medicine. |
| A different pack size | Quantity, label and next collection. |
| A different strength or dosage form | Whether the prescription must change and how to use the medicine. |
| A foreign pack | Instructions in Norwegian and correct use. |
| A different active ingredient | Assessment and a follow-up plan with a doctor. |

DMP describes these solutions in its [information about the causes of supply problems and possible measures](https://www.dmp.no/forsyningssikkerhet/legemiddelmangel/legemiddelmangel-arsaker-og-tiltak). A different pack does not necessarily mean you have received the wrong medicine.

However, you should not calculate a new dose or choose another product yourself. Let the pharmacist and doctor clarify this. SamfunnPrep's [guide to generic substitution](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/generisk-bytte-apotek-legemidler) explains how to avoid taking the old and new brand names as two different medicines.

## When must you contact your doctor?

Contact your doctor if the pharmacy says the prescription or treatment must change. Also do this if you do not have an agreed solution before the medicine runs out.

Ask the pharmacy to explain what the doctor needs to assess. “The medicine is out of stock” may be too little information. The name, strength, dosage form and alternatives already checked make the message more useful.

You can write or say:

> The pharmacy cannot supply [name, strength and dosage form]. I have medicine until [date]. They have checked [alternatives]. Could you assess my ongoing treatment or prescription?

Keep the message you receive and clarify who will contact whom. If the doctor issues a new prescription, check that the pharmacy can actually supply the new product. A prescription change alone does not guarantee stock.

If your regular GP is unavailable and healthcare cannot wait, call **116 117**. Call **113** in an acute life-threatening emergency. [Helsenorge explains when the out-of-hours medical service is the right service](https://www.helsenorge.no/hjelpetilbud-i-kommunene/legevakt/).

## What if DMP's overview says the shortage has ended?

A closed shortage report does not mean all pharmacies already have the product. Ask the pharmacy to check the stock and delivery that apply to you.

DMP explains that it can take time for new products entering the supply chain to reach local pharmacies. Supplier reports may also be delayed or incomplete. Not finding a result in the overview therefore does not mean your problem is not real.

Search by both brand name and active ingredient. Check the date and any advice included in the report. Ask the pharmacy how the information applies to your exact strength and pack.

## What is a good plan until your next collection?

Make a simple plan stating whom you contact, what solution has been agreed and when you must follow up. Ensure the plan covers both the prescription and actual delivery.

**Example:** One pharmacy is out of stock. Another has the correct pack. You confirm stock and reservation before collecting it. If the pharmacies cannot offer a suitable alternative either, take their specific explanation to your doctor.

Note the last agreed step while it is fresh in your mind. [SamfunnPrep's practical tools](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) can help you keep track of other everyday tasks. During a medicine shortage, your next step is to get an agreed solution from the pharmacy or doctor.

## FAQ

### Does one pharmacy being out of stock mean all are empty?

No. Other pharmacies or wholesalers may still have the product. Ask the pharmacy to check stock and delivery.

### Can I use medicine with a different strength?

Do not choose a product or change the dose yourself. The pharmacist must clarify whether the solution fits your prescription, and you may need to contact a doctor.

### Is a foreign pack an illegal product?

Not necessarily. DMP can authorise foreign packs during shortages. Ask the pharmacy to explain correct use.

### What if the shortage overview shows no problem?

Search by name and active ingredient, and ask the pharmacy to check actual delivery. Reports in the overview may be delayed or missing.

## Sources

- [Oversikt over legemiddelmangel – for pasienter og helsepersonell](https://www.dmp.no/forsyningssikkerhet/legemiddelmangel/oversikt-over-legemiddelmangel---for-pasienter-og-helsepersonell)
- [Forsyningsproblemer – årsaker og tiltak](https://www.dmp.no/forsyningssikkerhet/legemiddelmangel/legemiddelmangel-arsaker-og-tiltak)
- [Legemiddelmangel i Norge](https://www.apotek.no/apotekbes%C3%B8ket/legemidler-i-apotek/legemiddelmangel-i-norge)
- [Ring legevakten på 116 117 for øyeblikkelig hjelp](https://www.helsenorge.no/hjelpetilbud-i-kommunene/legevakt/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Medicine out of stock: how to find the next solution", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T22:17:46.546+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/medisin-utsolgt-legemiddelmangel