Are the Drugs You Are Taking in Short Supply?
June 08, 2005
This winter, the short supply of flu vaccines was highly publicized. Even closer to the survivorship community was the recent disclosure of the shortage of injectable methotrexate. Injectable methotrexate is used in high doses for most of the 4,500 children diagnosed with leukemia, osteosarcoma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
How does a shortage occur without advanced warning? A combination of factors often leads to a shortage. Manufactures fail to release information of drug discontinuation or may ration a drug for competitive reasons, leading to a surprise shortage for the purchasers. For economic reasons, many hospitals have reduced the amount of drugs they have on hand and a shortage may deplete their already limited supply. Factors such as a natural disaster, raw material shortages, and problems with safety issues at the drug manufacturing plants also impact supplies. Market shifts and unexpected demands also impact drug supply.
Methotrexate is used not only by childhood cancer patients, but by patients with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus and Crohn’s disease. However, childhood cancer patients need extremely high doses found only in the injectable form. Because drug production is often based on demand and the childhood cancer community is a small community, the urgency of the situation may not be recognized as quickly.
Voicing your concerns regarding potential drug shortages with the appropriate governmental agencies and your own representatives ensures the needs of childhood cancer patients and survivors continues to be recognized. The Drug Shortage Program at the FDA continues to strive to ensure that safe and effective prescription are available to the American public.
You can monitor drug shortages, resolutions to the problems as well as drugs that are no longer available through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)and through the American Society of Health-System.
<< Back
June 08, 2005
This winter, the short supply of flu vaccines was highly publicized. Even closer to the survivorship community was the recent disclosure of the shortage of injectable methotrexate. Injectable methotrexate is used in high doses for most of the 4,500 children diagnosed with leukemia, osteosarcoma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma.How does a shortage occur without advanced warning? A combination of factors often leads to a shortage. Manufactures fail to release information of drug discontinuation or may ration a drug for competitive reasons, leading to a surprise shortage for the purchasers. For economic reasons, many hospitals have reduced the amount of drugs they have on hand and a shortage may deplete their already limited supply. Factors such as a natural disaster, raw material shortages, and problems with safety issues at the drug manufacturing plants also impact supplies. Market shifts and unexpected demands also impact drug supply.
Methotrexate is used not only by childhood cancer patients, but by patients with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus and Crohn’s disease. However, childhood cancer patients need extremely high doses found only in the injectable form. Because drug production is often based on demand and the childhood cancer community is a small community, the urgency of the situation may not be recognized as quickly.
Voicing your concerns regarding potential drug shortages with the appropriate governmental agencies and your own representatives ensures the needs of childhood cancer patients and survivors continues to be recognized. The Drug Shortage Program at the FDA continues to strive to ensure that safe and effective prescription are available to the American public.
You can monitor drug shortages, resolutions to the problems as well as drugs that are no longer available through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)and through the American Society of Health-System.
<< Back
