The New York Times reported today that many generic drugs are in short supply, including some drugs used to treat cancers and other life-threatening conditions. The story cited a Bloomberg article last week that covered the same issue. Reasons for the shortages stem from supply chain and financial problems at the shrinking number of firms that make and supply generic drugs to the American market. Panic buying for stockpiles is also cited as a cause in a Fox News story.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration maintains a list of these drugs, and includes links with contact information for the main suppliers. Beware of outdated information. One of the firms on the FDA list is identified in The Times’ story as having gone out of business. The University of Utah health system also has information about drug shortages.
Here’s the FDA list. Many of these names may be unknown to you, but if you or someone you know has a health condition requiring one of them, their names may be all too well known.
FDA List of Drug Shortages
0.9% Sodium Chloride Irrigation
Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 0.5%
Alprostadil (Muse) Suppository
Amoxicillin Oral Powder for Suspension
Azithromycin (Azasite) Ophthalmic Solution 1%
Bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection
Bacteriostatic Water for Injection
Belatacept (Nulojix) Lyophilized Powder for Injection
Belladonna and Opium Suppositories
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride and Epinephrine Injection
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
Chloramphenicol Sodium Succinate Injection
Chloroprocaine Hydrochloride Injection
Chlorothiazide Oral Suspension
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection
Conivaptan Hydrochloride (Vaprisol) in 5% Dextrose Plastic Container
Conjugated Estrogens/Bazedoxifene (DUAVEE) Tablet, Film Coated
Cyclopentolate Ophthalmic Solution
Desmopressin Acetate Nasal Spray
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection
Difluprednate Ophthalmic Emulsion
Diltiazem Hydrochloride Injection
Dimercaprol (Bal in Oil) Injection
Disopyramide Phosphate (Norpace) Capsules
Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection
Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) Injection
Echothiophate Iodide (Phospholine Iodide) Ophthalmic Solution
Edetate Calcium Disodium Injection
Epinephrine Injection, 0.1 mg/mL
Erythromycin Ophthalmic Ointment
Fentanyl Citrate (Sublimaze) Injection
Fludarabine Phosphate Injection
Flurazepam Hydrochloride Capsules
Guanfacine Hydrochloride Tablets
Heparin Sodium and Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection
Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Injection
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection
Hydroxypropyl (Lacrisert) Cellulose Ophthalmic Insert
Indigotindisulfonate Sodium Injection
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection
Leucovorin Calcium Lyophilized Powder for Injection
Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) and Dextrose Injection Solution-Premix Bags
Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) Injection
Lidocaine Hydrochloride (Xylocaine) Injection with Epinephrine
Lutetium Lu 177 Vipivotide Tetraxetan (Pluvicto) Injection
Mepivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride Tablets
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection
Multi-Vitamin Infusion (Adult and Pediatric)
Palifermin (Kepivance) Lyophilized Powder for Injection
Pantoprazole Sodium for Injection
Parathyroid Hormone (Natpara) Injection
Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension
Physostigmine Salicylate Injection
Potassium Chloride Concentrate Injection
Quinapril and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets
Quinapril Hydrochloride Tablets
Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection
Semaglutide (Ozempic) Injection
Semaglutide (WEGOVY®) Injection
Sincalide (Kinevac) Lyophilized Powder for Injection
Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection Bags
Sodium Chloride 14.6% Injection
Sodium Chloride 23.4% Injection
Sodium Chloride Injection, 0.9% Vials and Syringes
Streptozocin (Zanosar) Sterile Powder
Technetium TC-99M Mebrofenin Injection
Triamcinolone Acetonide Injectable Suspension
Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Injectable suspension
Trimethobenzamide Hydrochloride Capsules
Vecuronium Bromide for Injection
Philip Moeller is the principal author of the Get What’s Yours series of books about Social Security, Medicare, and health care. Substack @PhilMoeller
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some of these shortages , such as sterile saline solution, were still the result of the minimal help we supplied Puerto Rico to recover from storm damage.