Injectable opioids are in short supply, and drugmakers are struggling to keep up with demand, WAMU reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Injectable opioids like morphine, Dilaudid and fentanyl are in low supply throughout the U.S. Although the medical industry has dealt with shortages before, Red Starks, MD, said the current shortages are among the worst he's ever seen.
2. While physicians are making due with what's available, hospital pharmacies are coming up with contingency plans to avoid completing depleting their injectable opioid stock.
3. American Society of Anesthesia President Jim Grant, MD, said there's reason to worry.
4. Dr. Grant said the organization's numbers show in addition to the aforementioned drugs bupivacaine and epinephrine are also in short supply.
5. Pharmaceutical company consolidation is one of the primary drivers behind the shortages. With only one or two large plants responsible for producing the drugs if production is interrupted at any time, it jeopardizes the national supply.
6. The manufacturing process also cannot be easily replicated if another drugmaker wanted to pick up manufacturing duties.
7. That leaves the government in a delicate position. They're both attempting to limit the number of opioids produced by manufacturers while also searching for new supplies for injectable opioids. It's a fine line to walk.
Read the whole report.
