Scarce supplies of medications for life-threatening conditions have left hospitals looking for substitutes for patient or forcing the delay of treatment. According to the University of Utah’s Drug Information Service, drugs listed in short supply have tripled over the last five years to 211 medications. In the first few months of 2010, 89 drug shortages have occurred.
Most of the drug shortages involve injectables used in emergency rooms, ICUs, and cancer wards. Because of the types of drugs used, there are sometimes no good alternatives. The causes of the shortages include trouble importing raw materials, spikes in demand, factories that shut down for upgrades, and recalls of contaminated vials. Compounding the problem is that it is mostly cheap generic drugs made by fewer manufacturers that are experiencing shortages. The name brand, and very expensive, drugs seem to be just fine.
One of the issues that has cropped up is substitute drugs causing harm to patients who should be taking something else. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices reports that two people died last year because they were given the wrong dose of a morphine substitute.
Solutions have involved the Food and Drug Administration to ask foreign companies to ship their versions of the scarce drugs to the US temporarily. Two drugs whose shortages were eased by this include the anesthetic propofol and thiotepa, a drug used in transplants.
Other manufacturers are increasing their production capacity, but others say it’s the FDA’s fault for some shortages. The Generic Pharmaceutical Association, an industry trade group, says drug inspections and stockpiling of different drugs can lead to shortages.
Lawmakers area also taking notice of this problem. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) has urged the Federal Trade Commission to look into how pending drug company mergers might create or exacerbate drug shortages.
If you or a loved one has been injured by taking a substitute drug because of drug shortages, please contact an experienced pharmaceutical liability attorney in your area to set up a consultation.