Med Shortages

Published in today's NY Times. While not affecting psychoactive pharmaceuticals (yet) medication shortages are a growing problem. I quit Cymbalta in part because insurance changes meant I would have to pay $250/mo for the newly introduced generic - creating a personal "shortage". I couldn't afford the expense when my insurance premium itself was over $600 a month. I was forced into cold turkey, even had I known about the slower bead counting method, i wouldn't have had enough of the C. Reading about the growing concern over drug shortages only underscores why I am glad I got off the C. I want to be free from any drug where a shortage could throw me into the hell of withdrawal.

However, the current situation is tragic. These shortages are for life saving yet inexpensive generic cancer drugs - as well as treatments for other very serious conditions.

med shortages

I became aware of such drug shortages when my daughter was getting cancer treatments. It was good when she was part of study groups as they were getting the newest drugs but when her cancer came back and did not respond to the meds a second time and the older style meds were in short supply.

It was hard to watch her lose the battle just because there was not enough of a supply of any other older style med.