← European Medicine Shortage Tracker · all medicines

Isotretinoin shortage — availability across Europe

Availability information only — Mobi Doctor doesn't sell medicines; check with a pharmacy.

MEDICALLY REVIEWED
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
Internal Medicine Specialist
Cancer Immunology Researcher
Reviewed 30 July 2026 · next review due 30 January 2027

Isotretinoin currently has availability issues reported in 4 European registers: Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden.

Shortage  ATC D10BA01 · also listed as: Isotretinoin · ISOTRETINOINA · data refreshed 11 September 2026

Key facts

As of 11 September 2026, 4 of the 9 tracked registers list current availability issues for Isotretinoin, covering 13 affected product presentations. The longest-running open report was filed in Germany on 2025-10-11 and has now been open for about 11 months. Where agencies state a cause, unexpectedly high demand lead with 5 of the 10 stated-cause reports, followed by manufacturing problems with 3. The furthest expected-resolution date currently on file is 2026-12-31; the earliest is 2026-10-29. Notably, 2 reports have already passed the expected-resolution date without closing — prognoses for this medicine should be read as estimates, not commitments. Momentum is current, not historical: 6 of the open reports were filed within the last 90 days. The issue spread across registers over time rather than at once: Germany reported first (2025-10-11), with Italy following roughly 7 months later — a pattern typical of supply problems cascading between national markets. Registers in Germany, Italy, Sweden indicate that alternatives or equivalents are available — a pharmacist or doctor can advise on switching. In the WHO ATC classification, Isotretinoin is coded D10BA01 — a medicine acting on dermatologicals — so clinically related products appear under “Related medicines” below.

WhereStatus & productsSinceExpected end Reason / alternativesSource
🇩🇪 GermanyShortage
Aknenormin 20 mg Weichkapseln
+ 6 more products
ISOTRETINOIN BASICS 10 mg Weichkapseln
ISOTRETINOIN BASICS 20 mg Weichkapseln
IsoGalen 10 mg Weichkapseln
IsoGalen 20 mg Weichkapseln
Isotretinoin-ratiopharm 10 mg Weichkapseln
Isotretinoin-ratiopharm 20 mg Weichkapseln
2025-10-112026-12-31Erhöhte Nachfrage
Alternatives: N/A
register ↗
🇬🇷 GreeceLimited availability
A-CNOTREN SOFT.CAPS 10MG/CAP BTx30 (σε BLISTERS)
2026-04-202026-07-30Καθυστέρηση παράδοσης περιεκτικότητας Εναλλακτικά άλλα σκευάσματα τηςregister ↗
🇮🇹 ItalyShortage
ISDIBEN
+ 1 more products
ISOTRETINOINA DOC
2026-05-08Cessata commercializzazione definitiva
Alternatives: AIFA: equivalents with the same active substance are available.
register ↗
🇸🇪 SwedenShortage
Isotretinoin Orifarm 10 mg Kapsel, mjuk
+ 2 more products
Isotretinoin Orifarm 20 mg Kapsel, mjuk
Isotretinoin Sandoz 10 mg Kapsel, mjuk
2026-05-042026-12-31
Alternatives: Alternative(s) available — see the national register.
register ↗

New register reports per month

2025-10: 12025-11: 12025-12: 02026-01: 02026-02: 02026-03: 02026-04: 12026-05: 32026-06: 52026-07: 02026-08: 02026-09: 22025-102026-09

Full report history (13 register entries)

Every individual register entry for Isotretinoin in the tracked sources, newest first — including resolved and discontinued reports.

Reg.ProductStatusReportedExpected endStated reason
🇩🇪 DEIsotretinoin-ratiopharm 10 mg WeichkapselnShortage2026-09-092026-10-29Erhöhte Nachfrage
🇩🇪 DEIsotretinoin-ratiopharm 20 mg WeichkapselnShortage2026-09-092026-11-06Erhöhte Nachfrage
🇩🇪 DEIsoGalen 10 mg WeichkapselnShortage2026-06-262026-12-31Erhöhte Nachfrage
🇩🇪 DEIsoGalen 20 mg WeichkapselnShortage2026-06-262026-12-31Erhöhte Nachfrage
🇩🇪 DEAknenormin 20 mg WeichkapselnShortage2026-06-182026-12-31Erhöhte Nachfrage
🇮🇹 ITISDIBENShortage2026-06-15Cessata commercializzazione definitiva
🇸🇪 SEIsotretinoin Orifarm 20 mg Kapsel, mjukShortage2026-06-012026-12-31
🇸🇪 SEIsotretinoin Orifarm 10 mg Kapsel, mjukShortage2026-05-192026-12-31
🇮🇹 ITISOTRETINOINA DOCShortage2026-05-08Problemi produttivi
🇸🇪 SEIsotretinoin Sandoz 10 mg Kapsel, mjukShortage2026-05-042026-09-05
🇬🇷 GRA-CNOTREN SOFT.CAPS 10MG/CAP BTx30 (σε BLISTERS)Limited availability2026-04-202026-07-30Καθυστέρηση παράδοσης περιεκτικότητας Εναλλακτικά άλλα σκευά
🇩🇪 DEISOTRETINOIN BASICS 20 mg WeichkapselnShortage2025-11-062026-12-31Unzureichende Produktionskapazitäten
🇩🇪 DEISOTRETINOIN BASICS 10 mg WeichkapselnShortage2025-10-112026-12-31Unzureichende Produktionskapazitäten

Frequently asked

Is Isotretinoin currently in shortage in Europe?

Yes. As of 11 September 2026, availability issues are reported in: Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden. Availability is national — a shortage in one country does not mean it is short everywhere.

When is the Isotretinoin shortage expected to end?

Agency prognoses on file range from 2026-10-29 to 2026-12-31. These are manufacturer-reported estimates and frequently move; check the linked register entry for the latest date.

Are there alternatives to Isotretinoin?

12 of the active register entries indicate alternatives or equivalents (same active substance or an alternative treatment). Do not switch on your own — a pharmacist or prescriber can confirm the right substitute in your country.

Where does this Isotretinoin availability data come from?

Directly from the official medicines-agency registers that list Isotretinoin: BfArM (Germany), EOF limited-availability list (Greece), AIFA (Italy), Läkemedelsverket (Sweden). Every row on this page links to the underlying official record, and the dataset is refreshed from the primary sources every morning. Cross-language matching groups the same active substance across registers, so national spellings all resolve to this page.

Embed this tracker

Pharmacies, patient sites and newsrooms are welcome to embed the live status of Isotretinoin — free, with attribution. Copy this snippet:

<iframe src="https://www.mobidoctor.eu/medicine-shortages/medicine-shortages/isotretinoin/embed.html" width="100%" height="150" loading="lazy" style="border:1px solid #e1e0d9;border-radius:12px" title="Isotretinoin availability in Europe"></iframe>
<p style="font-size:12px">Source: <a href="https://www.mobidoctor.eu/medicine-shortages/medicine-shortages/isotretinoin/">Isotretinoin shortage status — European Medicine Shortage Tracker</a> by MobiDoctor</p>
Cite: “Isotretinoin: availability status across 4 European registers — European Medicine Shortage Tracker (MobiDoctor), 11 September 2026.” Link this page and the agency record. Statuses come from the linked official registers and can change daily.