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 125 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 125 products, which is up seven from our last update in July. Below we have 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.

Common ASC medications in short supply:

Atropine Sulfate Injection
Azithromycin (Azasite) Ophthalmic Solution 1%
Bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection
Bacteriostatic Water for Injection
Belladonna and Opium Suppositories
Bumetanide Injection
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride and Epinephrine Injection
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
Calcium Gluconate Injection
Cefazolin Injection
Cefixime Oral Capsules
Cefotaxime Sodium Injection
Cefotetan Disodium Injection
Chloroprocaine Hydrochloride Injection
Cyclopentolate Ophthalmic Solution
Desmopressin Acetate Nasal Spray
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection
Dexmedetomidine Injection
Dextrose 10% Injection
Dextrose 25% Injection
Dextrose 5% Injection
Dextrose 50% Injection
Diazepam Rectal Gel
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
Erythromycin Ophthalmic Ointment
Fentanyl Citrate (Sublimaze) Injection
Fluorescein Injection
Furosemide Injection
Gentamicin Sulfate Injection
Heparin Sodium and Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection
Hydroxypropyl (Lacrisert) Cellulose Ophthalmic Insert
Iodixanol Injection
Iohexol Injection
Iomeprol Injection
Iopromide (Ultravist) Injection
IV Fat Emulsion
Ketamine Injection
Ketoprofen Capsules
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection
Leuprolide Acetate Injection
Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) Injection
Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) Injection with Epinephrine
Lorazepam Injection
Mannitol Injection
Mepivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection
Metronidazole Injection
Midazolam Injection
Morphine Sulfate Injection
Pantoprazole Sodium for Injection
Physostigmine Salicylate Injection
Potassium Acetate Injection
Potassium Chloride Concentrate Injection
Promethazine (Phenergan) Injection
Propofol Injectable Emulsion
Protamine Sulfate Injection
Remifentanil Injection
Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
Sodium Acetate Injection
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection Bags
Sodium Chloride 14.6% Injection
Sodium Chloride 23.4% Injection
Sodium Chloride Injection USP, 0.9% Vials and Syringes
Sodium Phosphates Injection
Sterile Water for Injection
Sufentanil Citrate Injection
Triamcinolone Acetonide Injectable Suspension
Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Injectable suspension
Trimethobenzamide Hydrochloride Capsules
Valproate Sodium Injection
Vecuronium Bromide for Injection

Common LTC medications in short supply:

Amino Acids
Amoxapine Tablets
Atropine Sulfate Injection
Azithromycin (Azasite) Ophthalmic Solution 1%
Bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection
Bacteriostatic Water for Injection
Belladonna and Opium Suppositories
Bumetanide Injection
Cefazolin Injection
Cefixime Oral Capsules
Cefotaxime Sodium Injection
Cefotetan Disodium Injection
Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Capsules
Conivaptan Hydrochloride (Vaprisol) in 5% Dextrose Plastic Container
Conjugated Estrogens/Bazedoxifene (DUAVEE) Tablet, Film Coated
Cortisone Acetate Tablets
Cyclopentolate Ophthalmic Solution
Desmopressin Acetate Nasal Spray
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection
Dextrose 5% Injection
Diazepam Rectal Gel
Diflunisal Tablets
Disopyramide Phosphate (Norpace) Capsules
Echothiophate Iodide (Phospholine Iodide) Ophthalmic Solution
Epinephrine Injection, 0.1 mg/mL
Epinephrine Injection, Auto-Injector
Erythromycin Ophthalmic Ointment
Flurazepam Hydrochloride Capsules
Fluvoxamine ER Capsules
Gentamicin Sulfate Injection
Heparin Sodium and Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection
Hydroxypropyl (Lacrisert) Cellulose Ophthalmic Insert
IV Fat Emulsion
Ketoprofen Capsules
Leucovorin Calcium Lyophilized Powder for Injection
Leuprolide Acetate Injection
Lithium Oral Solution
Lorazepam Injection
Methyldopa Tablets
Morphine Sulfate Injection
Multi-Vitamin Infusion (Adult and Pediatric)
Nizatidine Capsules
Rifampin Capsules
Rifapentine Tablets
Semaglutide (Ozempic) Injection
Semaglutide (WEGOVY®) Injection
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection Bags
Sodium Chloride Injection USP, 0.9% Vials and Syringes
Sterile Water for Injection
Sulfasalazine Tablets
Thiothixene Capsules

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.