Pharmacists limiting prescriptions due to shortage of common painkillers

Some pharmacists are limiting prescriptions because of a shortage of common painkillers in Canada. CTV’s Shaun Vardon reports.

Some of the most common painkillers are getting hard to find at drug stores in Ottawa and across Canada.

According to Health Canada, there is a temporary shortage in Acetaminophen with codeine: Lenoltec No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, and Emtec-30

Acetaminophen with oxycodone: Oxycocet, Apo-Oxycodone/Acet, and Rivacocet, better-known to many as Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) and Tylenol 3 (codeine and acetaminophen).

Mohamed Elhalawany, a pharmacist and owner Kanata North Pharmacy, says he has seen the effects of the shortage first-hand.

“We do have a cancer patient who depends on a monthly supply of oxycodone and Tylenol. Unfortunately, we had to delay the dispensing until the doctor replies and gives us an alternative,” he said.

“Another patient has shingles. She was just prescribed Tylenol 3. We had to decline the prescription until the doctor replies giving her another alternative to tackle the pain.”

Health Canada says the shortage is due to “manufacturing disruptions and increased demand” and it’s working with manufacturers, distributors, provinces, and territories to “monitor the situation and explore options to increase access.”

For many patients walking into pharmacies lately to fill their prescriptions, they are finding only a shorter-term supply is available.

The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada says pharmacists are trying to limit prescriptions to a 30-day supply right now.

The organization says these shortages happen regularly with all kinds of medications. They say expanded powers for pharmacists could help reduce the need for additional doctors’ visits or visits to the hospital to get prescriptions adjusted.

“If pharmacists had expanded scope to do more and be recognized as practitioners in the controlled drugs and substance act, they could support patients more with prescribing and dosage changes,” said Shelita Dettani with the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada.

“If we had some of that scope and that funding, we could even have those conversations more broadly and make decisions right here at the counter and get patients supported. Of course, that would be in collaboration with their primary care providers.”

While the shortage may end within a few weeks, Health Canada is urging Canadians to only use licensed pharmacies to get medication and only buy products authorized for sale in Canada.

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