We can now confirm that the desmopressin nasal spray is back in the UK and available to be prescribed for patients. From Friday 19th December 2025, the spray should be available in pharmacies across the UK.
If you are having difficulties getting hold of the spray, see here.
How do I get hold of the desmopressin spray?
- Contact your GP and tell them that the spray is now available again and that you want to be prescribed it
- For ease, give them the exact name of the product. The name is desmopressin 10 micrograms per dose nasal spray. It is made by Aspire Pharmaceuticals. You can also give the PIP code for the spray, which is 115-8245
- Use your new prescription to pick up the spray from your local pharmacy, as you would any other medication! If you have your medication delivered by a home care service, they should also have access to the spray and be able to deliver this
- You should also contact your endocrine team to let them know you want to change medications, and that you have asked your GP to do this
As this is a new product, your GP may only prescribe one month of the spray to begin with, to see how you respond. After this, you will be able to have longer prescriptions.
You may also need to be monitored at first, to check you are responding well to the spray.
Is this spray the same as the old one?
In short, yes. This is a new version of the spray, but it uses the same formula as the old one that was available before the shortage. It is made by a different company, so the packaging is different, but the medicine inside is the same. The photo below shows what this new spray looks like.
Is the shortage now over for good?
Whilst we cannot say for certain what will happen in the future, we have been told by Aspire Pharmaceuticals that they are making sure enough supplies are available both now and in the future.
We recognise how difficult this shortage has been for many of you. Whilst this shortage may be over, our work in this area is not. We will be continuing to push for long-term change to make sure that shortages of vital medications, such as desmopressin, are avoided in the future.
If you would like to find out more about this new desmopressin nasal spray, you can read the Patient Information Leaflet or Summary of Product Characteristics, available below.
Patient Information Leaflet – This is the information slip that comes inside the packet of medicines, to tell you how to take them and common side effects to look out for.
Summary of Product Characteristics – This is the information sheet that is given to medical staff, to tell them how to prescribe the medicine.
We do not expect anyone to have problems getting hold of the spray, but if you do experience any issues, please do let us know. You can contact us on [email protected] to make us aware of any issues.
How was the shortage resolved?
Our national desmopressin shortage survey, carried out earlier this year, was instrumental in highlighting the ways this shortage has impacted you, our community. Without your generous contributions to this survey, this work would not have been possible.
In collaboration with the Society for Endocrinology, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency, relevant pharmaceutical companies and many dedicated experts and clinicians, we have worked hard for the last nine months to bring this shortage to an end. Through ongoing conversations, we have sought to understand the cause of the shortage and demonstrate the need to bring the spray back to the UK.
We want to thank everyone who has been involved in this work. It is a huge relief to know that our community can once again access the essential medical care they need to safely and confidently manage their AVP deficiency.
What if I still cannot get hold of the spray?
We are hearing from some people that they still can’t get the spray through their pharmacies. We hope this is because of teething issues in bringing back the supply and that it will soon resolve. In the meantime, the information below may help.
- Aspire Pharmaceuticals (the company that makes the spray) has confirmed that supplies are available in the UK and that pharmacists and patients have been successfully getting them
- Aspire is using Alliance Healthcare as its wholesaler and distributor for the spray. Not all pharmacies order their products through Aspire, which may mean they aren’t able to order the spray
- If your usual pharmacy can’t order the spray, we suggest trying elsewhere instead. We know Boots should be able to order it, so we suggest trying there
- When asking the pharmacist, give them the specific PIP code for the spray, which is 115-8245. This should make it easier for pharmacists to find the exact spray in their system
- Call Alliance Customer Services to see which pharmacies in your local area are partnered with them and stocking the spray. Their number is 01730 231148
If you have tried the above and still are not able to find somewhere stocking the spray, please do let us know by emailing [email protected].
