My latest on pharma and markets.....shortages that is...

[physasst]

http://www.angrybearblog.com/2012/04/drug-shortages-and-mythical-market.html

 

Drug shortages and the mythical market

I read an interesting article by Gehrett in the January issue of JAMA.

 

In response to the increased utilization of generic drugs (currently about 70% of drugs used in the US), a fact which should be applauded, we have seen a frightening increase in drug shortages. In Emergency Medicine, three of them have affected me directly as they are commonly used drugs. One, metoclopramide is useful for headaches, nausea, and gastric motility. Another, etomidate, is a useful sedative that is the staple drug in RSI (Rapid Sequence Intubation) kits across the country, and used on EMS ambulances extensively. There is a reason. Etomidate has lower cardiopulmonary depression than other sedatives like diprivan aka propofol. Another drug that is in shortage is Compazine, aka prochlorperazine, which is extensively used for migraines, as well as benign vertigo. In fact, it remains one of my favorite “staple” drugs.

 

Per the article, in 2005, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research only noted 62 shortages through the year. 2009 saw 157 shortages, 2010, 178. 2011 had estimates of between 200 and 300. 75% in 2010 were sterile injectables. Ya know, The medications most frequently used in hospital settings. Many of these drugs are made at one site, by only one company, which limits supply and increases the chances of disruption.

 

While Gehrett does note that 80% of raw materials come from foreign countries, there does not seem to be any shortage of raw materials that have been documented or noted.

 

The only single, commonality, is that all of the medications we have seen in shortage status are off patent, generic medications, that are harder to formulate than some others, and have a definable shelf life.

President Obama has signed legislation that will give the FDA more latitude in heading off shortages, but this problem plainly reports to a market problem. Demand exists…supply is stable, but profits are not high on these medications. This would suggest that companies are simply avoiding injectable generics, and focusing on more profitable patented medications.

 

Meanwhile, cancer trials have been put on hold, while companies focus on profit margins. Headache patients suffer and receive other medications that may be suboptimal for them. This situation is only worsening with time, and should be cause of concern for all Americans.

[EMEDPA]

we are low on ativan and toradol as well.

[VictoriaO]

i about blew a gasket about it the other day

My brittle diabetic went back to the OR, I had finally gotten her sub-q insulin regimen dialed in. She gets 8mg of Dex in the OR for nausea. Why?

IV Zofran shortage....

Comes back upstairs with CBGs in the 400's

 

Back on the drip overnight she goes..

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

i about blew a gasket about it the other day

My brittle diabetic went back to the OR, I had finally gotten her sub-q insulin regimen dialed in. She gets 8mg of Dex in the OR for nausea. Why?

IV Zofran shortage....

Comes back upstairs with CBGs in the 400's

 

Back on the drip overnight she goes..

 

If anesthesia gave 8mg of decadron to a diabetic, then please give them an ear full. Secondly, if they used zofran shortage as an excuse, they could have just as easily used droperidol. Depending on the surgery, they could have just done a regional and not worried about nausea.

[VictoriaO]

Yeah, it was a tricky situation because the patient was newly diagnosed, it wasn't all over their medical history (came in with an A1c of 10), so it wasn't super easy for them to tell. Still called down and politely asked the attending to be sure to check and see if a patient is on insulin before giving any dex as a nausea med.

 

For some reason at my center all our IV anti-emetics are in shortage (other than IV benadryl). Some of them are limited to the ICUs only. I love droperidol for nausea, but it's on shortage IV as well. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out, I remember the propfol shortage from last year. Good thing dexmetetomidate is out now.

[ventana]

yeah and many of my patients are telling me they have a shortage of vicodin and valium........ heee hee hee sorry could not resist

 

 

seriously, this is a very real issue and one that needs to get figured out - hate to say it but some how the gov't needs to ensure the safety of supply chains - ie flu vaccine (but this took some 40 years to happen so I am not holding my breath)