Shortage of injectable methylprednisolone acetate

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable methylprednisolone acetate. This steroid medication is used to decrease the body's immune response as necessary. It may be directly injected into joints affected to arthritis, for example. It uses are so widespread that I recommend reading them yourself in the information sheet for Pfizer's brand name version, Depo-Medrol. Neither Pfizer nor the two generic drug companies give a reason for this shortage.

Shortage of methazolamide tablets

The American System of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of methazolamide tablets. Neither Fera nor Sandoz provided a reason for this shortage. Since there is no shortage of Fera's brand name version of methazolamide, Neptazane, there will be the usual speculation that the active principle ingredient is being used to produce the more expensive brand name version rather than the less expensive generic versions. If this is untrue, giving a reason for the shortage of the generic versions would be a good way to combat the lie.


Inside the eye, methazolamide inhibits the following reaction, reducing the amount of water produced and thus the pressure that leads to nerve damage and blindness in the case of some types of glaucoma. It has also been used off-label to reduce pressure on the brain by the same mechanism when swelling is occurring due to trauma, etc.

Methazolamide has also been used off-label for some tumors that contain high concentrations of carbon dioxide. In that instance, methazolamide inhibits this reation, leading to tumor cell death.

A more recent off-label use has been inhibition of the carbonic anhydrases involved in the abnormally increased bone resorption in ankylosing spondylitis, a disease that destroys various of the body's joints.

Shortage of cyclosporine (modified) oral presentations

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of cyclosporine (modified) oral presentations. Chemically modified cyclosporine immediately forms an emulsion in water, making it more available to the body. It is more likely to be used to treat psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, while unmodified cyclosporine is more likely to be used to prevent rejection of kidney, heart, or liver transplants. Sandoz cites unspecified manufacturing delays as the cause of their shortage. Teva and Watson give no reason for their shortage.

Shortage of caffeine and ergotamine tartrate tablets

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of caffeine and ergotamine tartrate tablets. Sandoz is the only US supplier of these tablets, and states that the shortage is due to a change in location of the facility that manufactures their raw materials. Presumably that means a factory somewhere in the world that manufactures their ergotamine tartrate, since there would logically be no shortage of caffeine. Still, you can see this as an example of how little information is given out in response to the questions asked about these shortages. There is a class of headaches, including some migraines, known as vascular headaches. Caffeine narrows blood vessels throughout the body and ergotamine narrows blood vessels in the brain, resulting in relief for some headache sufferers after a vascular headache has begun. They do not prevent headaches. This drug combination may be life-threatening to an unborn or nursing baby. There are also dangerous interactions with other drugs and with other medical conditions. Have an in-depth discussion with your doctor.

Shortage of naltrexone tablets

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of naltrexone tablets. This drug shortage is likely due to a shortage of the active principal ingredient, naltrexone hydrochloride. Covidien states that this is the reason they have the drug on back order, but Teva and Sandoz did not give a reason. This drug is used to combat alcohol and opioid drug addiction by combining with the receptors in the brain that are occupied by alcohol and opiates.

A question that arises is whether this shortage might be due, at least in part, to FDA approval of 50 mg tablets. Addicts seem to find this amount too high, and ask physicians for prescriptions from compounding pharmacies at a lower dose. Could that be how the active ingredient is being used instead of for the 50 mg tablets? Other addicts take the dubious route detailed on the Internet of obtaining a prescription for the 50 mg tablets, putting a tablet into suspension in distilled water, and gradually increasing their daily intake to combat their withdrawal symptoms.

Shortage of lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets. This particular presentation of lansoprazole is very important for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly called heartburn, but uncommonly serious in some people whose esophagus is constantly exposed to stomach acid. This results in burns, ulcers and swallowing difficulties. The significant fact is that this drug formulation disintegrates in the mouth and can be taken without swallowing water. The shortage is caused in part by the voluntary withdrawal from the market of Teva's product earlier this year. The FDA notice explains in detail. Sandoz provided no reason for their shortage.