Drug shortages currently stand 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.
This week we are once again providing an update on the most recent drug shortages.
As noted above, the current list stands at 116 products, which is up five from our last update in December.
Common ASC medications in short supply:
- Atropine Sulfate Injection
- Bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection
- Bacteriostatic Water for Injection
- Bupivacaine Hydrochloride and Epinephrine Injection
- Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
- Calcium Gluconate Injection
- Cefazolin Injection
- Chloroprocaine Hydrochloride Injection
- Cyclopentolate Ophthalmic Solution
- Desmopressin Acetate Nasal Spray
- Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection
- Dexmedetomidine Injection
- Dextrose 50% Injection
- Digoxin Injection
- Diltiazem Hydrochloride Injection
- Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection
- Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection
- Echothiophate Iodide (Phospholine Iodide) Ophthalmic Solution
- Epinephrine Injection, 0.1 mg/mL
- Epinephrine Injection, Auto-Injector
- Fentanyl Citrate (Sublimaze) Injection
- Furosemide Injection
- Gentamicin Sulfate Injection
- Heparin Sodium and Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection
- Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection
- Ketamine Injection
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection
- Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) and Dextrose Injection Solution-Premix Bags
- Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) Injection
- Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) Injection with Epinephrine
- Lipid Injection
- Lorazepam Injection
- Mannitol Injection
- Mepivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
- Metronidazole Injection
- Midazolam Injection
- Morphine Sulfate Injection
- Ondansetron Hydrochloride Injection
- Potassium Acetate Injection
- Promethazine (Phenergan) Injection
- Propofol Injectable Emulsion
- Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
- Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
- Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection Bags
- Sodium Chloride Injection USP, 0.9% Vials and Syringes
- Sterile Water for Injection
- Triamcinolone Acetonide Injectable Suspension
- Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Injectable Suspension
- Vecuronium Bromide for Injection
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.
