Since 2015, at least 20 drugs have been in and out of shortage, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' drug supply database.
Here are the 20 medications and their shortage histories listed in chronological order:
Note: The FDA has tracked drug shortages for decades, and its list can be accessed here.
1. Magnesium sulfate injections have been in shortage since at least May 2015, and as of April 10, 2023, three drugmakers are reporting supply issues with their solutions.
2. Diltiazem hydrochloride injection supply has waned since at least June 2015, and as of April 6, 2023, two drugmakers are experiencing shortages and one now-closed drugmaker, Akorn Operating Co., discontinued its solutions in mid-2022.
3. Vancomycin hydrochloride injections have been in short supply since at least June 2015, and as of April 11, 2023, 12 solutions are in shortage and 33 are available.
4. Leucovorin calcium injections have been in shortage since at least June 2015, and as of April 11, 2023, 15 solutions are unavailable and two products are discontinued.
5. Morphine injections have gone into dearths since at least June 2015, and as of April 10, 2023, 14 solutions are available and 13 solutions are not.
6. Acetylcysteine oral and inhalation solution supplies have been rocky since at least June 2015, and as of March 24, 2023, there is insufficient supply for ordering 10 products.
7. Atropine sulfate injections have been in shortage since at least June 2015, and as of April 10, 2023, manufacturing delays and increased demand have delayed the product's release.
8. Cefotaxime sodium injections have been in shortage since at least June 2015, and as of March 9, 2023, six products are unavailable.
9. Antivenin latrodectus mactans, or black widow spider antivenins, have been in short supply since at least June 2015, and as of January 17, 2023, Merck has low inventory of one solution.
10. Multiple vitamins for infusion, including Infuvite and multivitamins, have been unavailable since at least June 2015. As of March 8, 2023, four solutions are in shortage because of third-party manufacturing delays and three others are discontinued.
11. Levetiracetam injections have been in shortage since at least June 2015, and as of March 9, 2023, two drugmakers have one solution unavailable. Most other drugmakers told ASHP they have usual supply levels.
12. Lidocaine injections have been in a dearth since at least June 2015, and as of April 10, 2023, 44 solutions are in shortage and 12 are available.
13. Lorazepam injections have fallen into shortages since at least June 2015, and as of April 13, 2023, three drugmakers cannot match demand, and Akorn discontinued its products after it ceased operations in February.
14. Clindamycin phosphate injections have been in shortage since at least June 2015, and as of April 10, 2023, there is not enough supply for 21 products.
15. Lidocaine with epinephrine injections have been unavailable since at least June 2015, and as of April 11, 2023, 23 solutions are in shortage.
16. Doxorubicin injections have been in short supply since at least July 2015, and as of April 11, 2023, eight products are unavailable and 12 are available.
17. Ketorolac injections have been in shortage since at least July 2015, and as of March 7, 2023, four drugmakers do not have enough supply for six products and another company discontinued three solutions.
18. Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injections have been unavailable since at least August 2015. As of April 19, 2023, three drugmakers are reporting shortages as 15 solutions are on the market.
19. Vecuronium bromide injections have been in shortage since at least September 2015, and as of March 22, 2023, five products are unavailable because of increased demand.
20. Bupivacaine injections have been in a dearth since at least September 2015, and as of April 19, 2023, 32 solutions are in shortage and 15 are not.