A commonly prescribed antibiotic is in short supply after three of the four major manufacturers of the medicine, amoxicillin, reported that they are suffering from a shortage.
Amoxicillin comes in various forms, but the one facing the most severe shortage is the liquid form of the medicine, which is most often prescribed to children who have ear infections. They are also commonly prescribed for bacterial sinus and throat infections.
The FDA says it is working with the companies to hopefully resolve the shortage promptly, though it added that it doesn’t consider there to be an amoxicillin shortage because the one company that isn’t experiencing a shortage of the medicine can fully supply the market, if necessary.
Hikma, one of the companies that makes the medicine, said that they have enough stock to fulfill existing orders, but is limiting new orders due to their shortage.
“The combination in rapid succession of the pandemic impact and consequent demand swings, manufacturing capacity constraints, scarcity of raw materials, and the current energy crisis means we currently face a uniquely difficult situation,” a spokeswoman for another amoxicillin manufacturer, Sandos, said.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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3 Responses
Who paid you to put this article up! SCARY HEADLINE and then they tell you that 1 company has enough for a full supply! What is this sensationalism?! Hust nisht bessers vus tze teen?
If I ever get a bacterial infection, I plan to purchase some doxycycline for fish, which does not require a prescription.
Oh no. This is terrible. Now parents might learn that it isn’t necessary to drug their kids for every little earache.
Of many dozens of ear infections I’ve only given a kid antibiotics once, and even that time I possibly could have avoided it, but I decided to err on the side of caution.
The next time your pediatrician wants to prescribe antibiotics for your kids ear infection, ask if you can wait a bit and come back to check it again the next day.
Almost always the infection will resolve itself without treatment. As long as you keep an eye on it, there is no danger in holding off on the antibiotics.