This week we are once again providing an update on the most recent drug shortages.

Drug shortages currently remain at over 100 different medications, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noting 116 products as being unavailable. Some of these shortages are short term, or limited availability, while others are completely unavailable with unknown release dates.

As noted above, the current list stands at 116 products, which is down eight from our last update in January. In our client newsletter, we are providing two separate lists of medications in short supply. The first list covers the most commonly used medications in ambulatory surgery centers, while the second addresses medications commonly used long-term care facilities.

Steps you can take

The solution to each shortage is going to differ by the medication involved and the available alternatives. In a previous post titled “Ten Steps to Dealing with Drug Shortages”, I discussed ways to deal with shortages.

If you are currently struggling with a particular shortage, work with your pharmacy consultant to come up with creative ways to work around it. This requires planning and expertise. Some solutions may seem obvious and easy, but they could be dangerous to patient safety and often not compliant with licensing or accreditation standards. If you have questions about a current shortage, or how to set up a compliant system, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

The Consultant Pharmacists at OctariusRx provide guidance on safe medication management, survey readiness and cost savings to ambulatory healthcare facilities/surgery centers, senior care facilities and pharmacies. We also help individual patients optimize their medications to improve their quality of life and save money. Contact us for assistance.