At least 178 drugs that patients have relied on to help cure them - or save them - are not available to them today because not enough of those drugs have been manufactured.
This, according to an article on MSNBC, When vital drugs run out, patients pay the price. There is so much disturbing about this circumstance that it makes me cringe to write about it.
And this will come as no surprise to my regular readers: It's all about the money.
On the list are drugs for problems ranging from colorectal cancer to infections and pain. Shortages exist in many cases because the manufacturers just can't make enough money from them, or because the companies that produce ingredients for those drugs, can't make enough money producing those materials (so the drug maker can't get the ingredients for the drug.)
How does this affect us patients? In some cases, doctors don't realize a shortage is occurring, so they prescribe a drug we then can't get. When doctors do become aware of the shortage, they try to shift to another drug in the same class for prescribing.
In some cases, there is no substitute, and patients have died.
Mary Shomon, our About.com Guide to Thyroid writes about shortages in her field on occasion. I happened to catch her note on Twitter yesterday about a thyroid cancer drug in short supply that doesn't even seem to be on this list, leading me to believe the list is incomplete. You can find the lists of drugs in short supply here, knowing that at any given moment there may be more, or fewer drugs, on those lists.
Is there any relief in sight for those who need these drugs? Probably not. No one can force drugmakers to make any drug, or more of any drug. The FDA certainly has no clout. If there isn't enough money to be made on a certain drug, then manufacturers won't be rushing to produce it any time soon.
So what can we patients do? Unfortunately, not much. Pharmaceutical companies and their suppliers are publicly owned corporations which, by United States law, must focus on profits, regardless of how that affects patients.
If you are prescribed a drug and your pharmacist doesn't know when he or she will have a replenished supply, then talk to your doctor about finding a different drug, one that is available. Don't wait around to see if the drug will become available - your health should not be anymore dependent on those drug companies than it has to be.
If you or a loved one needs a drug that does not have an available alternative, then write a letter to the manufacturer. Do an online search - find the name of the president or CEO and go straight to the top. Plead your case and help them understand why it's in both your best interests for them to step up production.
Then, share your story with the only other people who might be able to help - your state's congressional representatives. As one voice, you may not make a difference, but as these stories become louder and broader, there may be some steps the government can take to improve the supplies. It's worth a try.
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