As the U.S. experiences the highest number of drug shortages in 10 years, the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reported 17 new shortages in May.
Here are the new shortages listed in alphabetical order:
1. Bleomycin sulfate injections: Four solutions are in shortage. Fresenius Kabi said it predicts a release date in June, Hikma Pharmaceuticals said it has one solution with a January expiration date available, and Pfizer has two solutions in limited supply without an expected resupply date. Four other products are available.
2. Budesonide suspension for inhalation: One solution is available as 18 are in short supply. Most drugmakers said they have limited supply and did not share an expected release date; Teva Pharmaceuticals said it predicts its back-ordered solutions will be available again in June.
3. Carboplatin injections: Among five drugmakers, 17 solutions are in shortage. One company did not share an expected resupply date, two predicted May and June, and the other two said late-2023.
4. Dexmethylphenidate extended release capsules: Thirty products are in short supply and 25 are available. Most drugmakers said they could not estimate a resupply date, while Teva said it predicts two solutions to return to normal supply levels in early June.
5. Fentanyl transdermal system: Alvogen has one solution on allocation and four others on back order with an estimated resupply date in early June. Mylan said it has eight products available.
6. Fludarabine phosphate injections: Four drugmakers are reporting a shortage. Accord Healthcare said it predicts supply to return to normal levels in November, Areva Pharmaceuticals said it's available by calling 1-812-399-0479, Fresenius Kabi USA's product is back ordered until June, and Teva has one solution on back order with no predicted release date.
7. Fluocinolone acetonide shampoo: There are no presentations available as Galderma reports its product is on a long-term back order and cannot predict a resupply date.
8. Gabapentin oral solutions: Three from Acella Pharmaceuticals are in shortage and three solutions — two from Mylan and one from Amneal Pharmaceuticals — are available. Acella said it could not predict a release date.
9. Hydrocodone and acetaminophen tablets: Thirty-five solutions are in shortage and 17 are available. Most drugmakers said they could not estimate a resupply date and one, Major Pharmaceuticals, said it expects resupply to happen in mid- to late June.
10. Hydroxyurea capsules, or Droxia: There are no solutions available as H2 Pharma reports three solutions on back order until late June or early July.
11. Isoniazid injections: Sandoz, the sole supplier, said it has one solution unavailable because of "requirements related to complying with good manufacturing practices." It expects resupply in June or July.
12. Isoniazid tablets: Three solutions from Teva are on allocation. The drugmaker said it is allocating available supply of one product, allocating another with recovery expected in June and allocating a third with resupply forecasted for July.
13. Lidocaine hydrochloride (viscous) oral topical solutions: An increase in demand pushed two products into short supply. Hikma said the two anesthetic solutions are available to current customers.
14. Penicillin V potassium oral presentations: Two drugmakers have seven solutions in shortage, and there are 10 solutions available. One solution is expected to return to normal supply levels in late June, two others are on allocation and the rest "are on intermittent back order and the company is releasing supplies as they become available," the ASHP said.
15. Protamine sulfate injections: Fresenius Kabi, the sole supplier, has two solutions on back order. Release dates are in June.
16. Ribavirin inhalations: Bausch Health and Zydus Lifesciences both have one solution unavailable. Bausch's product is on long-term back order and no predicted release date, and Zydus' solution is available with a short expiration and the company said it estimates more product will be available in the second half of 2023.
17. Sterile water for irrigations: Three drugmakers have 10 products on allocation, and none of them could estimate a resupply date. Seven solutions are available.