The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compiled its most recent list of current and resolved drug shortages and discontinuations on their website on April 2, 2019.1 The list includes more than 180 discontinued drugs and more than 270 drugs currently in shortage and resolved shortages across 26 therapeutic areas.
Although there has been a tremendous decline in new drug shortages since the most recent peak in 2011, shortages continue to challenge providers and practitioners.
In a statement released in July of 2018, FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD, announced the formation of a new Drug Shortages Task Force, which aims to resolve drug shortages by using a holistic approach to address their possible causes.2
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Solving a persistent challenge of this magnitude will not be addressed by the FDA alone. The task force will consist of senior leaders from the FDA, as well as leaders from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I believe long-term solutions must include those that encourage companies to invest in more capacity to make these important medicines, and to produce them with robust manufacturing processes that ensure consistently available quality products,” Dr Gottlieb noted. “But we need to look more broadly across the entire pharmaceutical industry, health care providers, payors, and government regulators for structural solutions that keep these shortages from happening.”
Provided below is a list of drugs1 currently in shortage across several therapeutic areas.
Anesthesia
Atropine sulfate injection
Bupivacaine hydrochloride and epinephrine injection, USP
Bupivacaine hydrochloride injection, USP
Ketamine injection
Lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine) injection
Lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine) injection with epinephrine
Methadone hydrochloride injection
Ropivacaine hydrochloride injection
Anti-Infective
Cefazolin injection
Cefepime injection
Cefotaxime sodium (Claforan) injection
Cefotetan disodium injection
Cycloserine capsules, USP
Erythromycin lactobionate for injection, USP
Gemifloxacin mesylate (Factive) tablets
Imipenem and cilastatin for injection, USP
Metronidazole injection, USP
Mupirocin calcium nasal ointment
Nystatin oral suspension
Piperacillin and tazobactam (Zosyn) injection
Antiviral
Letermovir (Prevymis) injection
Cardiovascular
Abciximab (ReoPro) injection
Bisoprolol fumarate tablets
Bumetanide injection, USP
Diltiazem hydrochloride
Diltiazem gydrochloride ER (twice-a-day) capsules
Dobutamine hydrochloride injection
Dopamine hydrochloride injection
Enalaprilat injection, USP
Epinephrine injection, 0.1 mg/mL
Eprosartan mesylate tablets
Guanfacine hydrochloride tablets
Labetalol hydrochloride injection
Lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine) and dextrose injection solution-premix bags
Methyldopa tablets
Metoprolol tartrate injection, USP
Olmesartan medoxomil tablets
Procainamide hydrochloride injection, USP
Timolol maleate tablets
Valsartan tablets
Dermatology
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Eflornithine hydrochloride (Vaniqa) cream
Endocrinology
Calcitriol injection USP 1 mcg/mL
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Dextrose 50% injection
Fludrocortisone acetate tablets
Penicillamine (Depen) titratable tablets
Phosphate injection products
Potassium chloride injection
Potassium phosphate injection
Progesterone injection, USP
Scopolamine transdermal system
Sodium bicarbonate injection, USP
Sodium chloride 23.4% injection
Sodium phosphate injection
Gastroenterology
Amino acids
Calcium chloride injection, USP
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Dextrose 5% injection bags
Dextrose 50% injection
Dicyclomine oral tablets/capsules
Metoclopramide injection, USP
Multivitamin infusion (adult and pediatric)
Ondansetron hydrochloride injection
Penicillamine (Depen) titratable tablets
Phosphate injection products
Potassium chloride injection
Potassium phosphate injection
Promethazine (Phenergan) injection
Ranitidine injection, USP
Sacrosidase (Sucraid) oral solution
Sodium bicarbonate injection, USP
Sodium chloride 0.9% injection bags
Sodium chloride 23.4% injection
Sodium phosphate injection
Hematology
Asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (Erwinaze)
Deferoxamine mesylate for injection, USP
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Heparin sodium and sodium chloride 0.9% injection
Nelarabine (Arranon) injection
Neurology
Atropine sulfate injection
Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Diazepam injection, USP
Levetiracetam immediate-release oral tablets, USP
Lorazepam injection, USP
Phenytoin sodium injection, USP
Physostigmine salicylate injection, USP
Scopolamine transdermal system
Oncology
Asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (Erwinaze)
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Dexrazoxane injection
Ethiodized oil (Lipiodol) injection
Etoposide injection
Etoposide phosphate (Etopophos) injection
Leucovorin calcium lyophilized powder for injection
Leuprolide acetate injection
Methotrexate sodium injection
Pediatric
Amino acids
Asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (Erwinaze)
Atropine sulfate injection
Calcium chloride injection, USP
Cefepime injection
Cefotaxime sodium (Claforan) injection
Dexrazoxane injection
Dextrose 5% injection bags
Dextrose 50% injection
Diphenhydramine injection
Dobutamine hydrochloride injection
Fentanyl citrate (Sublimaze) injection
L-Cysteine hydrochloride injection
Leucovorin calcium lyophilized powder for injection
Lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine) injection
Lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine) injection with epinephrine
Methylphenidate hydrochloride (QUILLICHEW ER) extended-release chewable tablets
Methylphenidate hydrochloride (QUILLIVANT XR) for extended-release oral suspension
Multivitamin infusion (adult and pediatric)
Nystatin oral suspension
Penicillamine (Depen) titratable tablets
Peritoneal dialysis solutions
Phosphate injection products
Piperacillin and tazobactam (Zosyn) injection
Potassium chloride injection
Promethazine (Phenergan) injection
Remifentanil (Ultiva) lyophilized powder for solution injection
Sodium bicarbonate injection, USP
Sodium chloride 0.9% injection bags
Sodium chloride 23.4% injection
Sodium phosphate injection
Psychiatry
Buspirone HCl tablets
Flurazepam hydrochloride capsules
Fluvoxamine ER capsules
Haloperidol tablets
Hydroxyzine pamoate oral capsules
Isocarboxazid tablets
Methylphenidate hydrochloride (QUILLICHEW ER) extended-release chewable tablets
Methylphenidate hydrochloride (QUILLIVANT XR) for extended-release oral suspension
Thioridazine hydrochloride tablets
Thiothixene capsules
Trifluoperazine hydrochloride tablets
Pulmonary/Allergy
Aminophylline injection, USP
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Diphenhydramine injection
Epinephrine injection, 0.1 mg/mL
Epinephrine injection, auto-injector
Promethazine (Phenergan) injection
Sclerosol intrapleural aerosol
Sterile talc powder
Renal
Dobutamine hydrochloride injection
Penicillamine (Depen) titratable tablets
Peritoneal dialysis solutions
Procainamide hydrochloride injection, USP
Reproductive
Hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection
Rheumatology
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection
Ketoprofen capsules
See the FDA Drug Shortages page for a full listing of current shortages, resolved shortages, and discontinuations for all therapeutic areas.
References
- Current and resolved drug shortages and discontinuations reported to FDA. US Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/default.cfm. Accessed April 2, 2019.
- Statement by FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on formation of a new drug shortages task force and FDA’s efforts to advance long-term solutions to prevent shortages. US Food and Drug Administration. July 12, 2018. Accessible at: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613346.htm
