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precaryous
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Default Apr 17, 2019 at 05:59 PM
  #1
Temazepam and Lorazepam:

Anyone know why these shortages are happening? Are these shortages affecting anyone else?

I’m finding pharmacies near here (USA) are running into shortages of my regular prescriptions for temazepam and lorazepam. My pharmacy is are doling them out in weekly increments instead of monthly- and they are not dispensing the generic meds by manufacturers that work best for me.

I’ve asked for brand name, in that case, but the pharmacies do not stock that, either.

I’ve tried phoning other pharmacies and am running into the same response- shortages.

Normally I use the generic for Restoril which is temazepam, manufactured by Mylan . Some of the other generic temazepam do not work well for me.

Now I find out manufacturers are having shortages of lorazepam, as well.

I assume pharmacists know a person should not ‘just do without’ either of these meds if some of the manufacturers are experiencing shortages.

Anyone know why the shortages are happening? Increase in demand?
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Default Apr 17, 2019 at 08:45 PM
  #2
I had a real tough time getting my temazepam filled they could not get 30mg temazepams. I had to have my doctor write the prescription as take two 15mgs. There has been a shortage for temazepam for months and it doesn't look to be getting much better

https://www.ashp.org/Drug-Shortages/...rrentShortages

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Default Apr 17, 2019 at 10:19 PM
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It could be a manufacturing program. One such company was damaged during a hurricane and was having trouble getting a certain dosage of a pain med produced....I ran into that problem,
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Default Apr 18, 2019 at 07:18 AM
  #4
benzodiazepine prescribing is on the uptick in the US. each year, the DEA signs off on certain amounts of materials to produce controlled substances. if their estimates didn't keep up with prescribing habits, then there might be a shortage. this happened w/ stimulants a couple years ago... :-(

sorry about this. maybe its specific to certain benzodiazepines? lorazepam is popular, but id wager that xanax is still a bit more popular...maybe ask the pharmacy if they have other benzodiazepines in stock? other than that...

again, sorry about this.
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Default Apr 19, 2019 at 12:20 AM
  #5
Quote:
Originally Posted by still_crazy View Post
benzodiazepine prescribing is on the uptick in the US. each year, the DEA signs off on certain amounts of materials to produce controlled substances. if their estimates didn't keep up with prescribing habits, then there might be a shortage. this happened w/ stimulants a couple years ago... :-(

sorry about this. maybe its specific to certain benzodiazepines? lorazepam is popular, but id wager that xanax is still a bit more popular...maybe ask the pharmacy if they have other benzodiazepines in stock? other than that...

again, sorry about this.
That’s a great idea, thank you! They act similarly.
I might ask the pharmacy if they are having any Xanax shortages first. I see my PCP next week and should know more by then.
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Default Apr 19, 2019 at 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Travelinglady View Post
It could be a manufacturing program. One such company was damaged during a hurricane and was having trouble getting a certain dosage of a pain med produced....I ran into that problem,
Hadn’t thought of that. Thank you!
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Default Apr 19, 2019 at 12:25 AM
  #7
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guiness187055 View Post
I had a real tough time getting my temazepam filled they could not get 30mg temazepams. I had to have my doctor write the prescription as take two 15mgs. There has been a shortage for temazepam for months and it doesn't look to be getting much better

https://www.ashp.org/Drug-Shortages/...rrentShortages
My pharmacy phoned my doctor and did this for me once already. I’ll check on the availability of 15mgs temazepam manufactured by Mylan

Yes, articles online say they don’t expect the shortage issue being resolved until approximately August, 2019. If then.
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Default Apr 19, 2019 at 07:20 AM
  #8
This is correct. Drug companies use the previous year's prescription stats and try and project or estimate how many new ones there will be along with using the old data. Then they submit the request to the DEA which authorizes and supplies the raw ingredients to the manufacturers. In some cases the meds are produced "in house" meaning they are not outsourced to a third party company for production (out of the country in many cases). If they underestimate there is a shortage and (not surprisingly) the prices often increase. Overestimation and the prices often go down. Sometimes the inspections of imported medications or imported from outsourced medications delay things. And sometimes when patents expire and the company is waiting for approval to extend it affect things. Also sometimes the demand for the generic versions is high because they are cheaper. Sometimes if you have good insurance asking for the brand can circumvent the issue.

Quote:
Originally Posted by still_crazy View Post
benzodiazepine prescribing is on the uptick in the US. each year, the DEA signs off on certain amounts of materials to produce controlled substances. if their estimates didn't keep up with prescribing habits, then there might be a shortage. this happened w/ stimulants a couple years ago... :-(

sorry about this. maybe its specific to certain benzodiazepines? lorazepam is popular, but id wager that xanax is still a bit more popular...maybe ask the pharmacy if they have other benzodiazepines in stock? other than that...

again, sorry about this.

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