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Most of us have tried-and-tested remedies we've bought for years from the chemist's. We know they work, and it means not having to bother the doctor.
But why do much-relied upon products sometimes disappear from sale without warning, and what happens when they are discontinued?
It's a common problem, according to Sultan Dajani, a community pharmacist in Bishopstoke, Hants, and a spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
'Sometimes, a product disappears because it has been overtaken by one that works better or the manufacturer decides a product is no longer profitable and stops making it,' he explains.
'In other cases, the product becomes prescription-only.
'There can also be temporary problems in the supply chain, which means stocks run low as new batches aren't made. This can ca use problems for months - even years.'
Here, we look at popular products that have disappeared, and why, and what you can take instead...
'Sometimes, a product disappears because it has been overtaken by one that works better or the manufacturer decides a product is no longer profitable and stops making it'
MOTILIUM FOR BLOATING
Used to treat a wide range of stomach complaints, including heartburn, bloating and nausea, motilium works by blocking a brain chemical which causes nausea and vomiting and boosting the contractions of the stomach and intestines.
Motilium was available to buy over the counter until September 2014, when it was made a prescription-only product.
'In 2014, research was published which found the active ingredient domperidone, which speeds up the transit of food through the stomach and bowel, was associated with a small increased risk of heart rhythm problems,' says Mr Dajani.
Although the regulators decided the benefits outweighed the risks for treating nausea and vomiting, it was advised that it should no longer be taken for bloating and heartburn and should be restricted to prescription-only, so patients can have their heart health checked before taking the drug.
WHAT TO TAKE INSTEAD: There is no single over-the-counter product that can replicate what Motilium did, says Mr Dajani - he recommends antacids such as Gaviscon, antispasmodics such as Buscopan and peppermint oil capsules such as Colpermin for IBS-type symptoms.
SYNDOL FOR HEADACHES
For headaches, try paracetamol and codeine combinations with caffeine - or take with a cup of coffee or tea
The painkiller Syndol disappeared early in 2014 before a new product was launched later in the year called Syndol Headache Relief.
Like the original, this contained caffeine, paracetamol and codeine phosphate. However, one ingredient from the old formulation was missing - doxylamine.
'Doxylamine is an antihistamine with sedating effects, but it also enhances the effects of codeine,' says Mr Dajani, whose customers still ask for the old version, as they believe it was more effective.
A spokeswoman for Sanofi, which makes Syndol, said: 'It is the manufacture of doxylamine specifically that we are having difficulty with, which is why we have had to remove it from our Syndol formulation.
We hav e been, and continue to work hard to resolve the problem and hope to include it in our Syndol formulation again in future.'
WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD: 'For headaches, I'd recommend paracetamol and codeine combinations with caffeine - or take with a cup of coffee or tea, to help the active ingredients work faster,' says Mr Dajani.
VOLTAROL PILLS FOR JOINTS
UNTIL recently, diclofenac pills, including Voltarol Pain-Eze, were available to buy over the counter. 'Diclofenac blocks the action of a chemical called cyclo-oxygenase (COX) involved in inflammation and is stronger and more effective than paracetamol and ibuprofen,' says Mr Dajani.
As such, the product was a popular arthritis remedy.
Although Feminax Ultra is marketed for period pain, it works for all pain and men can take it, tooHowever, in January this year, diclofenac pills were switched to prescription-only because of safety concerns, including an increased risk of heart problems - regulators decided this meant patients needed to be assessed by a doctor first.
WHAT TO TAKE INSTEAD: Gels containing diclofenac are still available over the counter as these don't carry the same risks.
'Another alternative would be taking Feminax Ultra - one of only a few over-the-counter products that contain Naproxen, a new, stronger anti-inflammatory painkiller,' suggests Mr Dajani.
'Although it's marketed for period pain, it works for all pain and men can take it, too.'
COAL TAR CREAM FOR PSORIASIS
Leave-on coal tar creams can be obtained as 'specials' - unlicen sed made-to-order products
Coal tar is a thick, brown by- product of coal production used in creams and shampoos to reduce itchiness and inflammation in the dry skin conditions eczema and psoriasis.
'A number of coal tar treatments have disappeared over the past year or two with very little explanation as to why,' says Carla Renton, spokeswoman for the Psoriasis Association.
'For example, GlaxoSmithKline pulled the Polytar shampoo range officially in 2012, although it had been unobtainable for around two years previously. We have heard from many people who rely on coal tar treatments as they are the only thing that works for them.
'Even moving from one coal tar treatment to another could produce different results.'
Julia Schofield, a consultant dermatologist at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, has previously suggested that one factor in the dwindling availability of coal tar products is that they are less profitable than newer creams that contain steroids and vitamin D.
A number of coal tar treatments have disappeared over the past year or two with very little explanation as to whyA spokeswoman for GlaxoSmithKline, which makes Polytar, said: 'We've had to take the difficult decision to discontinue the current range as we have been unable to source a supply of the active ingredient which would meet even basic Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.' The firm hoped to launch an alternative product, she added.
WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD: There are six coal tar shampoos still available (compared to nine in 2011), including Psoriderm, Sebco and T/Gel.
The only coal tar bath product left is Psoriderm and there are just three topical treatments, Carbo-Dome cream, Exorex Lotion and Psoriderm Cream.
'Alternative treatments include steroid or vitamin D-based applications,' says Ms Renton.
'But if people have settled on coal tar applications, it's probably because they've already tried t he other options.'
Leave-on coal tar creams can be obtained as 'specials' - unlicensed made-to-order products prescribed by a dermatologist or a GP.
However, because of the way the NHS procurement system works, these can be very expensive - especially for GPs, who may be reluctant to prescribe them as a result.
Prescribed by a hospital dermatologist, these 'specials' can cost as little as £15.49; if prescribed by a GP, the cost to the NHS can be as much as £274.27.
Fewer companies are making charcoal tablets as they've been overtaken by other products such as Gaviscon
CHARCOAL TABLETS FOR IBS
Made from carbon, these are a cheap traditional remedy for an upset stomach, diarrhoea, indigestion, bloating, flatulence and other IBS-type symptoms.
'They work by absorbing excess gas in the gut,' explains Dr Nick Read, a gastroenterologist and chair of the IBS Network.
'There isn't much in terms of clinical evidence on their effectiveness for IBS, but lots of people swear by them.'
But fewer companies are making charcoal tablets as they've been overtaken by other products such as Gaviscon, says Mr Dajani.
'However, lots of my patients still ask for them - specifically tablets that contain "activated" charcoal.
'This is isn't a medical term, it is supposed to work by having an increased surface area that absorbs gases and toxins, but this is not proven.'
In July, Medicinal Charcoal Tablets made by JL Bragg's - the only manufacturer of activated charcoal left in the UK - were taken off shelves in Boots who blamed 'falling customer dem and', though JL Bragg's said there was a disagreement about a price increase request.
'This led to an incorrect perception our charcoal tablets weren't available anywhere,' says John Briggs, managing director of JL Bragg. 'In fact, they're still available from most other pharmacy chains.'
WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD: Mr Dajani recommends Gaviscon and other antacids for acid reflux and antispasmodics such as Colofac for bloating and Buccastem for nausea.
PILLS FOR LEG CRAMPS
Pharmacies across the UK have been out of stock of Crampex pills for night muscle cramps since February and desperate customers have resorted to buying supplies on the internet, at up to £200 a packet from private sellers. It normally costs just £5.10 for 24 tablets.
Thornton and Ross, the company that distributes Crampex, say the problem is an issue with the suppliers who also make it, which they hope to resolve in 2016. 'At the moment, we just don't have any left,' says brand manager Vicky Motley.
'We're in the process of finding a new supplier to manufacture them for us and then we will have to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority for approval [of the new supplier].'
Pharmacies across the UK have been out of stock of Crampex pills for night muscle cramps since February
WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD: Crucially, don't be tempted to buy on the internet - on eBay, for example.
'There's a high risk the drugs will be fake and even dangerous,' says Mr Dajani. See your GP about possible alternatives available on prescription.
'Quinine [originally designed to treat malaria] is an alternative medicine prescribed fo r leg cramps,' says Mr Dajani. This prescription form is known as quinine bisulphate. 'However, there are no alternative over-the-counter drugs.'
PANOXYL CREAM FOR ACNE
'PANOXYL was a popular acne cream you could buy over-the-counter but, around a year ago, the manufacturers decided to stop making it,' says Mr Dajani.
It comes in three different strengths and, while the stronger dose, 10 per cent benzoyl peroxide, is now back on the market, the milder 2.5 and 5 per cent benzoyl peroxide strengths are still not available.
The active ingredient in PANOXYL, benzoyl peroxide, basically kills off the bacteria that cause acne
'The active ingredient benzoyl peroxide basically kills off the bacteria that cause acne,' explains Mr Dajani. 'This causes irritation and helps shed the top l ayer of the skin.
'However, some people with acne find the higher-strength 10 per cent benzoyl peroxide still available is too strong and want the milder-strength products.'
A spokeswoman for Stiefel, a GlaxoSmithKline company and the maker of PanOxyl, told Good Health: 'Due to strict European regulatory and quality requirements, in addition to GSK standards, we have been unable to restore other strength formulations (2.5 per cent and 5 per cent strengths) at this time.
Benzoyl peroxide causes irritation and helps shed the top layer of the skin'We will continue to communicate any updates on other PanOxyl products as and when these updates are available.'
WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD: Mr Dajani recommends Acnecide Gel (5 per cent), which has the same active ingredient benzoyl peroxide (£9.99 for 30g).
EYE OINTMENT YOU NO LONGER SEE
Lacri-lube is an ointment containing liquid paraffin and soft paraffin to ease grittiness and soreness caused by dry eyes.
It was recalled in September this year because of a fault with the bottle and, as a result, it went out of stock.
Subsequently sales of a similar product called Xailin Night went through the roof and there are also now supply problems with this, too. Both products can be found on eBay for vastly inflated prices - Lacri-lube is being sold for £31 a 5g tube compared to the normal price of £5.09.
Both products provide a protective layer across the eyeball and may be particularly useful at night, as they stay in the eye longer than drops for dry eye.
Allergan, which makes Lacri-lube, say supplies should be in pharmacies again between January and mid-Feburary. David Trevor, country manager for Nicox UK distributors of Xailin Night, confirmed the company ran out of stock in November because of extra sales after Lacri-lube was recalled.
'It's been a nightmare for patients with dry eye - they can't use daytime products at night as they tend to evaporate,' he says.
'We have ordered extra supplies from our manufacturer in India and they should be in pharmacies in January.'
WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD: Simple Eye Ointment BP.
Source: Why don't chemists stock your favourite medicine any more? Headache pills, coal tar cream and charcoal tablets discontinued
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