Amoxicillin Added To FDA's List Of Nationwide Drug Shortages

Monday, November 21st, 2022 -- 10:25 AM

Children and parents aren't the only ones feeling the strain of this year's respiratory virus season. Manufacturers of the antibiotic amoxicillin are also struggling to keep up. 

Wisconsin Public Radio reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added amoxicillin to its list of nationwide drug shortages on Oct. 28. That shortage hasn't let up, and one brand of the drug is completely unavailable.

Surges in cases of RSV, influenza and rhino/enteroviruses among children are leading to more prescriptions of the antibiotic being doled out. Supplies of the liquid, or suspended version of the drug used for children is currently the most strained.

Lucas Schulz is the clinical manager for Infectious Diseases Pharmacy at UW Health in Madison. He said delays in manufacturing, order processing and an increase in demand is driving the scarcity.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Service's weekly respiratory virus surveillance report counted 2,273 cases of RSV from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5. In contrast, last year's respiratory season peaked in September, and at its height DHS reported 867 cases of RSV.

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