While the shortage of amoxicillin, especially its liquid and chewable forms, has proved frustrating for pharmacists, doctors and parents whose children have grown accustomed to the gum and strawberry flavored varieties of the drug, experts say there is no need to panic: According to the FDA, supplies of effective alternatives such as cefalexin and clindamycin remain abundant
But the process of finding a suitable alternative delays care and can be frustrating. “It is already stressful to take care of a sick child, and now you have to find a prescription for it. But alternatives are available that are appropriate for the age and indication,” said Dr. Michael Ganio, senior director of pharmacy practice and quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
While hundreds of drugs, including chemotherapy and anesthetics, have been in short supply for years, current shortages of amoxicillin and antiviral drugs are unusual, Dr. Ganio said. He attributed the spike in demand to the early rise in respiratory disease this year.
“These are not your typical drug shortages, which are associated with manufacturing or supply chain disruptions,” he said. While most drug makers prepare for seasonal variations, he said: “We don’t use Tamiflu much in the northern hemisphere during the summer and the manufacturers plan accordingly. This has hit earlier than expected.”
The FDA, which tracks drug shortages on its website, said there was no national shortage of Tamiflu, but some regions of the country had temporary shortages. There are a number of alternatives to Tamiflu, which can prevent the flu and reduce the severity and duration of the illness, but many doctors are unfamiliar with those options, experts say.
The shortages highlight the fragility of the country’s drug supply chain, especially for low-cost generics like amoxicillin that are manufactured by only a handful of companies. Experts say the low prices for such drugs discourage investment in advanced quality management systems, which could improve manufacturers’ flexibility in the face of shortages and allow them to scale production more quickly.
One manufacturer, Sandoz, said it was ramping up production to meet increased demand and hoped to double its output in the coming months. “We face challenges in meeting this sudden spike in demand as the flu season is in full swing,” the company said in a statement.
