There are several products critical to our dispensing clients that are in short supply or are just unavailable. These include, but are not limited to, Acetaminophen with Codeine (C-III), Benzonanate (Generic Tessalon) 100mg and 200mg capsules, Ketorolac tablets and injectable and a host of other generic injectable products.

There is currently a national shortage of acetaminophen with codeine C-III. The shortage is due to a number of factors but is primarily due to the fact that the DEA rescheduled all Vicodin and Norco products as C-II’s in the fall of 2014. This led to a major increase use of acetaminophen with codeine products. All drug manufacturers MUST give the DEA their manufacturing quota for what they plan to produce in a calendar year (a number they can’t exceed unless approved by DEA). Since the manufacturers did NOT know at the beginning of 2014 that the DEA was going to reschedule all Vicodin and Norco products, the manufacturers were not prepared for the increase use of acetaminophen and codeine products in late 2014 and early 2015 and have, therefore, run out of product. Manufacturers are currently trying to catch up. Our main supplier Qualitest is scheduled to release acetaminophen with codeine 30mg on Feb 28th 2015.

There is also a national shortage of Benzonanate 100mg & 200mg capsules (generic for Tessalon™). One generic manufacturer Ascend has no ETA as to when product will be available while Amneal has an ETA of March 6th. Sun/Caraco may have some short dated product available, but will be discontinuing the product after their current supply is exhausted. Neither Amneal nor Ascend have provided a reason for the shortage. With the departure of Sun/Caraco from the market place, there is a good possibility that the cost of Benzonanate will rise significantly in March.

Ketorolac tablets and most injectable forms are currently unavailable. The injectable product is unavailable due to a recent recall by Hospira’s multi dose vials. The injectable product should hopefully be available again in mid March. The reason for the shortage of the tablet form is not clear but one thing is clear is that the cost will double once the product is available again.

A host of generic injectable products including lidocaine products and IV bags, continue to be in short supply. This is directly attributed to the problems Hospira continues to have with the FDA atits plants both here and in India as well as Australia. The problem has gotten to the point where Hospira fell victim to another big pharma takeover by Pfizer who just purchased Hospira for $15 billion.

Phenazopyridine 100mg and 200mg may also be hard to get soon. The price has skyrocketed for this prescription product to the point where many wholesalers are not carrying the product. We currently have a healthy supply which will hopefully last us for at least 6 months.

Dexamethasone injectable is hard to get as well. There are rumors that American Reagent the major manufacturer of generic Dexamethasone injectable is discontinuing the product. Not sure why and what products will be available if that should happen.