Guidance to help healthcare organisations manage the ongoing supply shortage of chlordiazepoxide, a medication used in medically assisted alcohol withdrawal, has been published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The shortage, confirmed in a DHSC Medicine Supply Notification issued on 30 March 2026, affects both 5mg and 10mg capsules, with some manufacturers’ stock discontinued and others that were unavailable until mid-July.
The guidance, produced by a group led by Professor Julia Sinclair, Chair of the UK Alcohol Care Team Innovation and Optimisation Network, sets out the alternatives to chlordiazepoxide and how to make a system change safely.
It brings together experts to help organisations navigate the practical challenges of managing this shortage, in an area where clear clinical guidance has previously been lacking. Clinicians are also urged to reserve remaining chlordiazepoxide stock for patients already partway through detox.