"Five years ago, there were 30 drug shortages. Today there are 150," said O' Neal.

http://www.wsmv.com/news/26946998/detail.html

I've been following this since last year because last year I had a hard time getting 1 of my prescriptions filled all the way. I'd get half and my pharmacist would get the other 1/2 in later because of shortages.

It's not getting any better sounds like.

I'm not a Dr but there seems to be some common drugs on the list

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm

From what the first article says, the FDA is telling the manufacturers to do a better job with the quality of the drugs they make.

The manufacturers are having a hard time stepping up. So there are more shortages.

Am I interpreting that right?

I work in a pharmacy.  Last year there were an awful lot of recalls...

Shortages are one thing, but recalls? Jeeez!!! I guess Jilly, you're better off having to get your prescriptions "rationed" rather than getting the drugs recalled, but still!

It's going on bigtime here in Canada too.  Follow the money, it's almost always the answer.

I don't think anything is going to be immune from this. I fully expect people not to be able to get drugs they need and lives to degrade. This country is simply not going to run the way it has in the past because it is not longer being run the way it was in the past.

If you don't like it, mind who you vote for.  I am sorry but that is our only power and recourse.

Yeah there have been a lot of recalls.

And the FDA is still planning on withdrawing Midodrine, because of paperwork issues with the manufacturer. At least they've opened another public docket.

That would be bad for me. :(

Jilly, I feel so bad for you and people like you. I don't know what to say besides if there is ever something I can do for you, I will.

Thanks Elsa - I appreciate it. :)

Well this has gotten worse since I posted about it.

Much worse from what I hear. :(

yep :(

100+

http://www.ashp.org/DrugShortages/Current/

wow Jilly, i am astonished.  Thanks for letting us know about this. 

2011 medication shortages set new record at 267

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DRUG_SHORTAGES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-03-18-27-31

Whoa !

In Greece, even getting aspirin is a problem.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/greek-crisis-has-pharmacists-pleading-for-aspirin-as-drug-supply-dries-up.html

http://www.9news.com/news/article/249265/188/Cancer-drug-shortages-have-hospitals-scrambling

Local story on this

This is a problem for me from time to time but so far I am getting my meds.  It is such a nightmare to worry if  you are going to get your meds when you need them so much.  I find it a scary thing when you are dependent on medications to live.  Anyone anywhere in the field that cools their heels while other's suffer should be ashamed!  Whatever needs to be done to rectify this should be done!

My husband is an anesthetist and there are shortages and outages of drugs used for surgeries and it's getting worse. 

The current administration and congress are not a help in this at all.

Yesterday I saw a story about the shortage of methotrexate. This is an oral chemotherapy pill given to cancer patients and some with autoimmune disorders. I was hoping to try methotrexate eventually for my autoimmune.

The gist was that now that this medication is generic and less expensive, Big Pharma has less motivation to make it. And cancer patients are already going without.