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Related: About this forumWhat's behind shortages of Adderall, Ozempic and other meds?
Source: Associated Press
Whats behind shortages of Adderall, Ozempic and other meds?
By TOM MURPHY
April 30, 2023
Shortages of drugs like Adderall are growing in the United States, and experts see no clear path to resolving them. For patients, that can mean treatment delays, medication switches and other hassles filling a prescription.
In recent months, unexpected demand spikes, manufacturing problems and tight ingredient supplies have contributed to shortages that stress patients, parents and doctors. For some drugs, such as stimulants that treat ADHD, several factors fueled a shortage and make it hard to predict when it will end.
Shortages, particularly of generic drugs, have been a longstanding problem. The industry has consolidated and some manufacturers have little incentive to solve shortages because cheap generics generate thin profits.
Heres a deeper look at the issue.
HOW MANY DRUG SHORTAGES ARE THERE?
There were 301 active national drug shortages through this years first quarter, according to the University of Utah Drug Information Service. Thats 49% higher than the 202 recorded in the first three months of 2018.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/drug-shortages-adderall-ozempic-855632a04a17c2bf75b6a89e4c08ef79
intrepidity
(7,830 posts)Theres been a lot of finger pointing back and forth, Fox said.
More demand + less supply = opportunity to increase profit
I've already seen it, price jacking for meds in short supply.
Blue Owl
(54,563 posts)Eugene
(62,623 posts)better public visibilty of the supply chain for both regulators and consumers.
Theres been a lot of finger pointing back and forth, ...
hippywife
(22,767 posts)and it was getting so hard to locate because of people using it for weight loss, their doctors writing it off label, when people like me really needed it for our diabetes. Weight Watchers eve bought some company so they'll now be able to provide it, as well.
https://www.salon.com/2023/03/06/rich-people-are-hogging-ozempic-making-the-harder-to-access-for-people-with-diabetes/
https://www.salon.com/2023/04/27/social-media-is-fueling-enthusiasm-for-new-weight-loss-drugs-are-regulators-watching_partner/
Warpy
(113,116 posts)to sell their more expensive drugs while generics are in short supply, thus generating some windfall profits.
Something else is at work here, from planned shortages to up the price to diversion of stocks to organized crime, both of which have happened in the past with other drugs.