DAYTON — The country’s most heavily prescribed antibiotic is in short supply.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said amoxicillin, commonly used to treat strep throat, is becoming difficult to obtain.
Local doctors said the shortage is just one of many they’ve had to deal with in recent years.
“We’ve gotten used to having them around. It’s a little difficult when it’s not here,” said Dr. Joseph Allen, regional medical director for Premier Health. News Center 7’s Kayla McDermott.
>> Could the passage of Issue 2 affect past and present marijuana charges and convictions?
Mr Allen said on the ground that while there was some impact from the shortage, it had not yet been “seriously hit”.
The drug is the most prescribed drug in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as cases of streptococcal pharyngitis are expected to spread rapidly and people will continue to test positive before and during the holidays. listed as an antibiotic.
“If we haven’t addressed the shortage by then, there could be an even bigger impact,” Allen said.
The shortage is due to liquid antibiotics, which are prescribed to children because they are easier to handle than swallowing tablets. If the shortage continues, children may start receiving antibiotic shots.
>> Check your wallet: If you have a $2 bill, it could be worth thousands of dollars
Olivia Dean, mother of four Zenia children, knows all about this antibiotic. Three of her four children have strep throat.
Amoxicillin worked for my daughter, but not for my twin sons.
“They are allergic to amoxicillin, so if they got it, they were treated with Z-Pak,” Dean said.
Allen said the use of alternative drugs is the norm as demand for antibiotics remains high.
“Sometimes you have to switch up and think a little more hard about what you use,” Allen says.
