In recent weeks, drug manufacturers have announced shortages for several medications.
Becker’s compiled a list of recent drug shortages based on data from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists:
1. Chlorothiazide oral suspensions: Bausch Health has its Diuril oral suspension in 237 milliliter bottles on back order. The medication is indicated for hypertension and edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and corticosteroid and estrogen therapy. The company estimates a resupply date of late January.
2. Iodine and potassium iodide: There are no presentations available of the medication, indicated for thyroid-related conditions, from Safecor Health. The manufacturer said it has Lugol’s solution on back order and it estimates a release date in late November or early December.
3. Leucovorin calcium tablets: Twenty presentations are in shortage across four drugmakers. Epic Pharma reports six available presentations while Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Ingenus Pharmaceuticals, Leading Pharma and Teva Pharmaceuticals have tablets on back order or allocation. Leading and Teva predict their shortages to resolve by late November.
4. Oxacillin sodium injections: Armas Pharmaceuticals reports a shortage of one presentation due to scanning issues, while Eugia US did not specify a reason for its shortage of two products. Both expect the shortages to resolve in November. The medication is indicated for infections caused by penicillinase producing staphylococci and suspected cases of resistant staphylococcal infections. Fresenius Kabi and Baxter International collectively have three presentations available.
5. Sufentanil injections: Pfizer, the sole supplier of the opioid agonist, has Sufentanil 50 micrograms per 1 milliliter vials on back order and expects a release date in November. The therapy is indicated as an analgesic in the maintenance of balanced general anesthesia and with bupivacaine.
