Shortage of drugs is a growing problem

Richard Wenzel PharmD of the Diamond Headache Clinic in the latest issue of the leading medical journal, Headache writes about the shocking fact that this country’s pharmaceutical industry cannot reliably supply medications for patients. He also talks about a connected, also undeniable development: “generic drugs currently push the boundaries of affordability”.

Drug shortages involve easily replaceable drugs, but also many life-saving cancer medications. Headache sufferers have not been spared, especially those with severe illness requiring injectable products; droperidol has been unavailable since 2013, various haloperidol and magnesium products are currently on backorder, and the availability of ketorolac, diphenhydramine, and valproic acid has recently been sporadic.

Dr. Wenzel writes that as of July, 2015, the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) cited 265 active drug shortages. There’s also a “drugs no longer available” list of 57 medications unlikely to ever be commercially manufactured again, including ergotamine.

In the past two years, injections of dihydroergotamine, an irreplaceable migraine drug developed in 1940s, had been unavailable for two periods of lasting several months. The cost of this generic drug skyrocketed from 10 to up to $130 for a single dose.

Scarcities of raw materials, disruptions to manufacturing plants (eg, hurricane damage), insufficient FDA staff to provide prompt approval for production facilities, industry consolidation, and decisions to stop producing a marginally profitable or unprofitable product have all been cited as shortage reasons.

According to the Healthcare Supply Chain Association the costs of 10 drugs widely prescribed among the general public have jumped up to 8000% in as little as one year (2013–2014). For example, a single tablet of an antibiotic doxycycline went from $0.04 to over $3.60 and the new cost of Isuprel, a heart medication went from $180 to $2700 for a single ampule.

The medical community has been trying to address the problem of shortages and high costs through various organizations and the congress, but to no avail. Actually, the government is to blame in some cases. Besides the FDA staff shortages, low payments by the government (and insurers) that do not cover the cost of production is another common reason. When all pharmaceutical companies stop manufacturing a non-profitable or money-losing drug, one company jumps back in and because it is the only one making this medicine, they can charge exorbitant amounts for a generic drug.