Discontinued, Un-available meds...

[Mike Le H.]

I'd like to hear from any of you who showed up at your drugstore to re-fill your meds. and the pharmacist said,
"Call your Doc. 'cause there's one of yours we ain't got no more of."
Linda was seizure free for 18 years, 15 of which I've known her and all was good till her revelation with the pharmacist...had to call Doc. and...
Four months later, nothings' been the same.
Linda lies in hospital, again, tonight... It's been a long stretch and we
don't like the why by which Linda is back.
Any input on discontinued meds would be appreciated.
We'd like to know how prevelant this is +
if anyone is doing anything about it.
Linda & Mike

 

[Endless]

Mike,

Great question. This became a worry for me when I had problems with lamictal.

There is an international drug shortage caused by manufacturers dropping non-profitable generics, quality and safety issues at generic manufacturers causing plant closures or manufacturing delays, etc. Most of the shortages are injectables for hospitals, but there are others, too. Here's the official FDA website. All the info there is from voluntary reporting from drug manufacturers, so it's not perfect.

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm

Good resource with another shortage list: http://www.ashp.org/shortages

Note that diazapam/lorazapam/midazolam/phenytoin injections are on the shortage list. Hope nobody goes into status and needs a shot that the hospital doesn't have.

My pharmacy keeps switching generic lamictals because their wholesaler says they are having problems getting lamical from just one source. I plan to buy a few months worth privately (not insurance) to keep as a backup in case they run out completely for awhile. Not as expensive as you'd think. http://www.healthwarehouse.com/lamotrigine-100mg-tablets.html

Also check and see if your wife's prescription med is on the healthwarehouse site. With luck it could be.

I forgot this: http://www.ashp.org/menu/Advocacy/FederalIssues/DrugShortages.aspx
Here's your chance to do something about it.

 

[Mike Le H.]

Thanks very much Endless for this great and extensive volumn of information.
This'll be a big step up in researching this topic.
Mike

 

[CelloPhone]

Midazolam is an anticonvulsant too? I wonder, then, because I had that intravenously administered for sedating prior to a medical procedure, but it didn't work a bit. I was wide awake, alert, didn't forget anything, and when they discontinued the procedure, I went shopping with my mom and played video games, not falling asleep until late evening even though I'd stayed up all night before.