Oxycodone Drug Shortages in Summer 2023
Opioid-containing Pain Drugs: ASHP database to check status of drug shortage
The White House formed a task force at the beginning of 2023 to deal with the issue of persistent drug shortages in the U.S. But they have yet to contact the lawmakers or take any actions related to the shortages. Fifty-seven percent of hospital pharmacists said they are facing critical shortages of chemotherapy drugs in a new survey from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Industry and patient representatives who have met with task force members said there has been no indication of when they will make recommendations that could spur federal agencies to act.
https://www.statnews.com/2023/08/11/drug-shortages-white-house/
In addition to cancer drugs, stimulant drugs, and weight loss drugs, opioid-containing treatments for severe chronic pain are also in short supply. Five generic manufacturers of oxycodone/acetaminophen tablets, which are more widely known under the brand names Percocet and Endocet, are reporting shortages or have already exhausted their supply. Amneal, Major and Rhodes did not provide American Society for Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) with a reason for the shortage, while Camber and KVK-Tech said they were “awaiting DEA quota approval for active ingredient.”
Oxycodone hydrochloride and Acetaminophen oral tablets regular drug shortage list
Immediate Release Tablets drug shortage list
Production Quotas of Opioid Drugs- Part of the Problem?
In recent years, the Drug Enforcement Administration aggressively cut production quotas for opioids and other controlled substances, reducing the supply of oxycodone by 65% and hydrocodone by 73% since 2013. According to Pain News Network, the 2023 DEA quotas for hydrocodone, oxycodone and several other opioids were cut — for the 7th year in a row — based on the advice of the FDA.
Pharmacy Times says that it is a myth that quotas can be used to fight the opioid epidemic as the quotas are to be based on prescriptions written.
But the quota system can cause problems if a manufacturer’s “procurement quota” is not filled by substitute manufacturers when a shortage is experienced by a particular manufacturer. Pharmacy Times reported in 2018 on the confusion over "controlled substances quotas."
https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/debunking-the-myths-of-controlled-substance-quotas
Consumer Tip: Checking on Drug Shortage Status
When researching drug shortages, including reasons for the shortage and expected date for the shortage to resolve, check the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) database first, as it is more up to date than the FDA drug shortages database. For example, as of August 18, 2023, the FDA drug shortages database does not include ANY drug shortages for oxycodone; it only lists a discontinuation of a Teva generic oxycodone product. ASHP, on the other hand, lists 8 different generic manufacturer shortages for oxycodone regular and extended release tablets.
When checking with your pharmacy about a drug that has been in short supply, make sure you talk to an actual pharmacist and don’t assume that an automated “robo answer” that says there is no supply is accurate; it could be that your pharmacy actually does have the drug that you need in stock.
ASHP drug shortage database:
www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages