New and Updated Drug Shortages List 11/10/14

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published its new and updated Drug Shortages through 11/10/14. The federal agency publicizes recalls on its website as press releases are not issued for all shortages. View the recalls by New and Updated.

New Drug Shortages

• Janssen has discontinued Norelgestromin/Ethinyl Estradiol Transdermal System (ORTHO EVRA), which has led to shortages. The company posted the discontinuation on October 21, 2014, stating that it was a business decision, and the product is expected to be depleted by the end of October 2014. ORTHO EVRA is a contraceptive patch available by prescription only for the prevention of pregnancy. The company’s decision may have been influenced by recent consumer litigation regarding the drug’s adverse events.
• Hospira has announced shortages of Gentamicin Sulfate Injection, USP (premix products), due to discontinuation of the product. Baxter and Fresenius Kabi had previously reported shortages of the drug due to increased demand. The agent is an antibiotic treating a variety of infections, including blood, stomach, and urinary tract infections.
• Aurobindo Pharma, Hi-Tech, and STI Pharma have reported shortages of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim (Bactrim) Oral Suspension. The synthetic antibacterial combination is used only for bacterial infections in an attempt to reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Hi-Tech has stopped manufacturing the drug and Aurobindo and STI attribute the shortage to increased demand.
• Baxter, Fresenius Kabi, Hospira, Mylan, and Sagent have reported a shortage of Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP, an antibiotic indicated for serious or severe infections caused by susceptible strains of methicillin-resistant (beta-lactam-resistant) staphylococci. Reasons for the delay include shortages from the manufacturer, shipping delays, and demand increases.

Updated Drug Shortages

Some drug shortages have been resolved including Bumetanide Injection, a Hospira, Bedford, and West-Ward product. Perrigo and Sandoz have resolved the shortage of Methazolamide (Neptazane) Tablets. Heritage and Mylan have posted the resolution of the Cidofovir Injection shortage. The most recent update on the Clindamycin Phosphate (Cleocin) Injection, shows that several companies including Hospira, Fresenius Kabi, and Akorn have the product available. West-Ward updated its shortages recently, stating that it now has Atropine Sulfate Injection available. Multiple companies have been short of Cefazolin Injection, but a few, including Hospira, have announced that the product is available.