5 Essential Drugs Currently Facing Shortages
US drug shortages have decreased from 323 to 277 as of September 2024, yet many essential drugs remain scarce, with 50% of shortages lasting over 2 years due to ongoing supply and manufacturing issues.
Earlier this year, the number of active US drug shortages
Drug shortages
Although the total number of shortages has declined from its peak, many continue to persist. Here are 5 drugs currently experiencing shortages in the US:
1. ADHD Medications
Various medications used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been listed in the FDA
It is available in all doses through Elite Laboratories, Epic Pharma, Lannett Company, Sunrise Pharmaceutical, and USPharma Windlas.3 Conversely, Alvogen, Aurobindo, Granules Pharmaceuticals, and SpecGx reported a shortage of all or some doses due to a shortage of an active ingredient. Also, Teva reported a shortage in select doses due to increased demand for the drug, and Sandoz had most doses on intermittent backorders through October 2024.
Another ADHD medication currently in shortage is lisdexamfetamine deimsylate, which
All or select doses of this treatment, respectively, are available through Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Rhodes Pharmaceuticals. Conversely, other manufacturers, including Alvogen, Apotex, Hikma, Lannett Company, Viatris, Solco Healthcare, and Sun Pharma, have limited availability due to a shortage of an active ingredient; similarly, SpecGx has it on backorder due to this shortage.
2. Pain Treatments
Several treatments used to manage pain are currently in shortage, including injectable opioids like morphine sulfate and fentanyl citrate. Morphine sulfate injection was first added to the Drug Shortage Database 7 years ago on October 31, 2017. It is currently available in select dosing through Amphastar, Fresenius Kabi, Hikma, Pfizer, and Piramal Critical Care. Conversely, Fresenius Kabi, Hikma, and Pfizer continue to face high demand, impacting their stock.
Additionally, fentanyl citrate injection was first added to the Drug Shortage Database on January 1, 2012. It is available in most doses through Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer, and Hikma. However, certain doses from Pfizer and Hikma have limited supply or rely on scheduled production to meet demand, respectively.
3. Chemotherapy Drugs
Although the shortage of cisplatin, a widely used chemotherapy drug, was
Methotrexate sodium injection, a chemotherapy treatment that kills cancer cells by preventing them from making DNA, was first added to the Drug Shortage Database on March 13, 2023.3 It is currently available through Fresenius Kabi and Hikma Pharmaceuticals.
Conversely, methotrexate sodium injection is unavailable through Accord, Pfizer, and Teva. Accord noted that it will be unavailable for 30 to 45 days due to the shortage of an active ingredient, while Pfizer and Teva only have limited availability due to increased demand for the drug.
Similarly, carboplatin injection was first added to the Drug Shortage Database on April 28, 2023. It is available through various manufacturers (Eugia, Fresenius Kabi, Gland Pharma Limited, Ingenus, and Teyro Labs). However, Pfizer and Teva have carboplatin in shortage due to increased demand, while Accord is dealing with manufacturing delays.
4. Insulin
Because of various shortages this past year, many patients with diabetes have had trouble
Novo Nordisk reported similar shortages for insulin aspart (Fiasp or NovoLog). It announced that manufacturing delays will cause Fiasp vials to be in short supply through October. Earlier this year, Novo Nordisk also reported shortages of NovoLog.
Another contributor to the insulin shortage was manufacturers discontinuing their products. For example, Novo Nordisk announced last November that it would be
5. Diabetes/Weight Loss Medications
On Thursday, after years of ongoing shortages due to increasing demand, all doses of Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide; Novo Nordisk) are now
Once the Ozempic and Wegovy shortage is completely over, the FDA will list them as “resolved” and remove them from the shortage list. This was done earlier this month for Mounjaro and Zepbound (Eli Lilly) as the supply now exceeds demand.
Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide, while Mounjaro and Zepbound contain tirzepatide. Ozempic and Mounjaro are both FDA-approved to treat patients with type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy and Zepbound are approved for weight loss.
Honorable Mention: IV Fluids
Earlier this month, the FDA
Given the shortage, the FDA released guidance that allows temporary flexibility for compounding these drugs without patient-specific prescriptions.10 It urges careful patient tracking for compounded drug-related issues and encourages reporting adverse events.
If supplies dwindle, additional drugs could be added to the shortage list. The FDA also acknowledged concerns about expired IV fluids, clarifying that extending expiration dates requires manufacturer stability data; as of October 18, no such data has been received to support an extension.
References
- National drug shortages: January 2001 to September 2024. ASHP. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/shortage-resources/drug-shortages-statistics - Pourmahram T. Collaborative solutions are needed to address and mitigate America’s drug shortages. AJMC. June 17, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.ajmc.com/view/collaborative-solutions-are-needed-to-address-and-mitigate-america-s-drug-shortages - FDA Drug Shortages. FDA. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://dps.fda.gov/drugshortages - Durbin K. Adderall. Drugs.com. Updated August 23, 2023. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.drugs.com/adderall.html - Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (oral route). Mayo Clinic. Updated February 1, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lisdexamfetamine-dimesylate-oral-route/description/drg-20070888 - Keenan J. FDA commissioner heralds end to US shortfall of chemo drug cisplatin. Fierce Pharma. July 1, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/fda-heralds-end-us-shortfall-chemo-drug-cisplatin - Alltucker K. As insulin shortages persist, what diabetes patients can do. USA Today. October 24, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/10/24/insulin-shortage-2024-ozempic-diabetes/75821654007/ - Insulin detemir injection. ASHP. Updated September 22, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages/drug-shortage-detail.aspx?id=1006 - Kindelan K. Ozempic, Wegovy move closer to no longer being in shortage, FDA says. ABC News. October 30, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/ozempic-wegovy-move-closer-longer-shortage-fda/story?id=115321505 - Gallagher A. FDA adds intravenous fluids to list of drug shortages. Pharmacy Times. October 18, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fda-adds-intravenous-fluids-to-list-of-drug-shortages - Navigating IV fluid shortages post-Hurricane Helene: insights from USP on compounding and conservation strategies. Pharmacy Times. October 24, 2024. Accessed October 31, 2024.
https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/navigating-iv-fluid-shortages-post-hurricane-helene-insights-from-usp-on-compounding-and-conservation-strategies
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