These 22 Medications Are in Short Supply—Is Yours on the List?

Whether it's to treat infection, alleviate pain or prevent the development of illness, there are many reasons why medication can be both beneficial and necessary.

Medicine shortages can happen for a wide variety of reasons, including high demand, manufacturing quality problems or regulatory issues—and whether you've been personally affected by it or you've just heard about it, you probably know that there's a shortage of quite a few medications at the moment. 

With that in mind, here's a list of drugs of 22 well-known drugs that are in short supply, out of over 100—you can view a full list of current shortages on the FDA website here. If yours is on the list, it's worth calling your local pharmacy to make sure your medication is currently well-stocked, and also essential to talk to your healthcare provider to find out what backup options you have. 

Medication Shortages In the U.S.

Amoxicillin

Prescribed to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, including pneumonia, ear, nose and throat infections and bronchitis, amoxicillin is a penicillin type of antibiotic. Amoxycillin is also paired with other drugs to get rid of the bacteria H. pylori, which can lead to ulcers.

Related: Considering Starting a New Medication for Anxiety or Depression? Here Are 7 Crucial Questions to Ask First

Acetaminophen

This medication is used to alleviate fever and mild to moderate pain ranging from headaches and backaches to menstrual periods. Acetaminophen, whose common brand name is Tylenol, is an active ingredient in many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines.

Aspirin

Aspirin is one of the most popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, typically used to reduce pain, fever and/or inflammation.

Adderall

A medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, many people living with ADHD benefit from this drug. Luckily, there are a lot of backup options if you can't get access to Adderall, so it's worth talking to your doctor about what they are. 

Cefixime

This medication is an antibiotic prescribed for bacterial infections such as strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea and Lyme disease.

Colestipol

Used to lower blood cholesterol, colestipol specifically targets LDL (low-density lipoprotein). It is also prescribed for chronic diarrhea to decrease stool volume and frequency.

Diazepam

This medication is in the benzodiazepine family and is typically prescribed for anxiety, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, seizures and muscle spasms. One of the most common brands of diazepam is Valium.

Epinephrine

Used in emergency situations for severe allergic reactions to food, insect stings/bites or other substances, epinephrine works by improving breathing, raising a dropping blood pressure, reducing swelling and helping with adverse skin reactions such as hives. You've likely heard of people who have "epi-pens" which are important to have on them at all times in case an allergic reaction occurs.

Lithium

This medication is a mood stabilizer often prescribed to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Lithium is considered an antimanic agent and works by reducing abnormal activity in the brain.

Lorazepam

Lorazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine class of medications. It is used for anxiety disorders, difficulty sleeping, seizures and alcohol withdrawal. Its most common brand name is Ativan.

Lisinopril

This medication is prescribed for high blood pressure, heart failure and post-heart attacks. It is also used to prevent kidney issues among people with diabetes.

Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium citrate is a natural laxative that helps with occasional constipation. It increases fluid in the small intestine, causing a bowel movement within 30 minutes to three hours.

Misoprostol

Misoprostol is primarily used to prevent stomach and duodenal ulcers in patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin. It's also used to induce labor and treat postpartum bleeding.

Prednisone

This medication is a steroid used to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation caused by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatologic conditions. It is also prescribed for high blood calcium.

Related: How To Reduce Inflammation In the Body, According to Doctors

Irbesartan

This medication is used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetic kidney disease. It works by blocking a chemical in the body that causes blood vessels to tighten.

Isoniazid

Isonaizid is an antibiotic prescribed to treat tuberculosis. It is often paired together with rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and either streptomycin or ethambutol.

Labetalol

This medication is used to treat high blood pressure and manage angina. This includes hypertension, hypertensive emergencies and hypertension in pregnancy.

Prochlorperazine

Prochlorperazine is prescribed to treat nausea, migraines, schizophrenia, psychosis and anxiety. It belongs to the phenothiazine class of drugs.

Quinapril

This medication treats high blood pressure, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease. It's an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor.

Rifampin

Rifampin is an antibiotic prescribed for treating bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, leprosy and Legionnaires' disease.

Ozempic

Ozempic (selmaglutide) is an injectable diabetes drug primarily used to balance blood sugar and treat Type 2 diabetes. More recently, it's been known for its off-label use in helping people with obesity lose weight. 

Sucralfate

This medication treats stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, radiation proctitis and stomach inflammation.

What To Do if Your Drug Isn't in Stock

It's important to understand that unfortunately, drug shortages have been a reality for more than a decade, Matt Soder, RPh, Director of Ambulatory Pharmacy at Cleveland Clinic, explains. Many of these shortages are short-term in nature, and currently, some interruptions are due to logistical issues stemming from COVID-19.

If the medication you or a loved one needs is out of stock, you can try calling around to other pharmacies to see if they have supply. If you are unable to find it, try talking to your provider or pharmacist about alternatives. Oftentimes there are other medications available that are similarly safe and effective, Dr. Soder adds. 

If you are concerned that your medication is not available, you can contact your pharmacy to ask if you will be able to get it filled. Your provider may also be able to tell you if there have been supply issues with a particular drug. The FDA also maintains a drug shortage list on its website, using information from the manufacturers, Dr. Soder states.

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