Common Drugs That Are in Short Supply Now

Shortages can have serious consequences

For some individuals, drug shortages can have little to no impact — nonemergency procedures can be delayed, or another drug can sub in just fine. Others, however, are left without options.

Millions of people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are struggling to find an alternative to Adderall as the shortage stretches on, CIDRAP reports. More than 4 percent of adults in the U.S. have ADHD, and the shortage could continue into 2023.

Using the example of an antiseizure medication, Ranney says, “that may be the only medication that works well for that patient. And so when that medication is running short, they don't have another alternative that's going to control their seizures.”

Even if there are other medication alternatives, Ranney points out that switching a patient to a new prescription can be problematic. “It forces physicians, nurses and pharmacists to do calculations that they may not be used to or to try to figure out what the best substitute is. And it puts patients at risk of potential errors, particularly for kids where we do weight-based dosing,” she says.

Another potential issue: insurance coverage. “Not every patient's insurance is going to cover every medication,” Ranney notes.

What can patients do?

If a drug that you normally take — or find out you need to take — turns up short, there are some things you can do.

First, ask your health care provider or pharmacist if the shortage appears to be temporary or if it will be long-term, Schondelmeyer says. “Because that affects your alternatives as well. In the short term, we might be able to find other medications that can treat you temporarily until we get the preferred drug back. But if the preferred drug is totally out of the market, then you have to find a totally new strategy for treating the patient's situation,” he says.

If your doctor does need to switch you from one medication to another, ask how it will affect your insurance coverage and whether the new drug will cause any new side effects or interfere with anything else you’re taking.

A few other tips, especially when it comes to seasonal illnesses: If you come down with the flu and are prescribed Tamiflu, ask your doctor for a printed copy of the prescription, in case the first pharmacy you go to doesn’t have it, Ranney suggests. (Unfortunately, there are no good alternatives to Tamiflu, which is a time-sensitive medication that needs to be taken in the first few days of the illness, she adds.)

And while the U.S. currently isn’t experiencing a shortage of the COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid, Ranney says, it’s not a bad idea to get that prescription printed, too — just in case. Similar to flu, the U.S. is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

“The biggest thing, really, is that it reminds us that our health care system remains quite fragile,” Ranney says. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks drug shortages and works with manufacturers to resolve them. Still, Schondelmeyer says, a better system is needed to help prevent them in the first place.

For now, Ranney says the best thing individuals can do is to lower their risk of needing as many of these medications as possible. “[It’s a reminder to] folks to be sure to get their flu shot and their COVID booster if they haven't. The bivalent booster is working quite well for older adults to reduce the risk of hospitalization,” she says. Wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings is another thing that can help you stay healthy this winter, Ranney adds.​