Amoxicillin, the nation’s most prescribed antibiotic, is in short supply nationwide as parents and pediatricians look ahead to the upcoming respiratory illness season. The powder version of the drug, which is made for pharmacists to blend into a suspension, remains in short supply for the second winter, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortage database. Multiple manufacturers report that the drug is still in production, but customers will only be able to order the limited quantities that can be produced. Two of the manufacturers said the shortage was related to “increased demand for pharmaceutical products,” while other manufacturers did not report the reason to the database. “Due to the huge spike in respiratory viral illnesses and ear infections and all sorts of other illnesses associated with the winter season over the past year or two, demand is actually outstripping what the supply chain can produce. As a result, there is a shortage. are occurring across the country and affecting patients,” Dr. Rohan Kazanchi, a pediatrician and resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, recently told CNN. Regarding the amoxicillin shortage last winter. Prescriptions for the drug have fallen by more than 90% since a shortage was declared in October, it found. Many doctors have turned to prescribing stronger antibiotics in some cases, but the alternatives sometimes have more severe side effects for patients and can contribute to antibiotic resistance. “We cannot require drug companies to make more drugs and more antibiotics,” the FDA said in a statement. Use drugs or alter drug distribution. ” The agency said it is “working closely with numerous manufacturers, distributors and others in the supply chain” to mitigate the impact of the shortage. Not all pharmacies will be affected by the shortage at that time. Rhode Island-based CVS said if one store runs out of stock, pharmacy staff can help patients find medication at another store.
amoxicillin, most prescribed There is a nationwide shortage of antibiotics in the country as parents and pediatricians look ahead to the upcoming respiratory disease season.
The powdered version of the drug, which is manufactured for pharmacists to mix into a suspension, remains intact. lacking A second winter is coming, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortage database.
Several manufacturers reported that the drug is still in production, but customers can only order limited quantities. Two of the manufacturers said the shortage was related to “increased demand for pharmaceutical products,” while other manufacturers did not report the reason to the database.
“Due to the huge spike in respiratory viral illnesses and ear infections and all sorts of other illnesses that come with the winter season over the past year or two, demand is actually outstripping what the supply chain can produce. There are shortages all over the place that are impacting patients,” Dr. Rohan Kazanchi, a pediatrician and resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, recently told CNN.
Kazanchi and colleagues I studied recently The effects of amoxicillin shortage last winter. Prescriptions for the drug have fallen by more than 90% since a shortage was declared in October, it found.
Many doctors have turned to prescribing stronger antibiotics in some cases, but the alternatives sometimes have more severe side effects for patients and can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
“We cannot require drug companies to make changes to their medicines, increase their production of their medicines, or change the way they distribute their medicines,” the FDA said in a statement.
The agency said it was “working closely with numerous manufacturers, distributors and others in the supply chain” to reduce the impact of the shortage.
Not all pharmacies are affected by shortages at any given time. Rhode Island-based CVS said if one store runs out of stock, pharmacy staff can help patients find medication at another store.
