Of the hundreds of ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., some are lifesaving cancer medications and 14 are among the 20 most commonly prescribed.
Seven drugs are now in shortage according to the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists:
Editor's note: The drugs are listed in alphabetical order.
1. Atropine sulfate injection is indicated to temporarily block severe or life-threatening muscarinic effects. Four solutions are in limited supply, according to a mid-June post from the FDA. A majority of the 19 solutions listed on the agency's website are available.
2. Cisplatin injection: The FDA reported this shortage June 5. Five cisplatin solutions went into shortage as early as January, and the latest updates from the FDA and ASHP indicate between 10 and 12 solutions are unavailable. Two drugmakers estimate resupply dates for July, and Teva Pharmaceuticals predicts full recovery by the end of 2024.
Seventy percent of cancer centers in the U.S. recently said they do not have enough cisplatin.
3. Enalaprilat injection: Hikma Pharmaceuticals has one solution available and another on back order until August or September, the ASHP said in late June. The drug is used to treat hypertension when an oral medication is not practical.
4. Ferric subsulfate, a hemostatic, has two solutions unavailable as of June 7. One drugmaker, CooperSurgical, told the ASHP it "is having issues with obtaining materials" and forecast resupply in late June. The other company, Gynex, did not disclose a reason for the shortage or an estimated release date.
5. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate: As of June 19, three capsules are in shortage and four are available from Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The medication is indicated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
A manufacturing delay caused 40 milligram capsules to be on back order until late June or early July, the drugmaker predicted, and 60 milligram and 70 milligram capsules are expected to be in shortage until September. The chewable tablets are not affected by this shortage, according to the ASHP.
6. Neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates genitourinary irrigant: There is not enough supply for usually ordering as X Gen Pharmaceuticals reports one back-ordered and one allocated solution. There are no forecasted resupply dates for the drug that works to prevent urinary tract infections in the bladder.
7. Rivaroxaban oral suspension: Jannsen has one solution on back order because of a quality issue, and it estimates supply to return to normal levels in July. No presentations of the blood thinner are available as of June 14.