Supply Chain Woes May Make These Common OTC Meds Harder to Find
While shortages of certain foods and other products can be disconcerting, it’s downright worrisome when medicines are in short supply. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) explains why this happens: “Drug shortages are caused by many factors, including difficulties in acquiring raw materials, manufacturing problems, regulatory issues, and business decisions, as well as many other disturbances within the supply chain.”
These other factors can be as simple as a sudden increased demand, which may happen due to things like allergy or flu season, but COVID has added to that sense of urgency, due to both supply chain issues—such as with the alarming 2022 baby formula shortage—and because the virus causes symptoms that necessitate over-the-counter (OTC) meds.
If the past two-and-a-half years—and the continuing disruption of supplies around the world—are any indicator, we could be facing shortages of popular OTC drugs. Read on to find out which ones you may have trouble finding at your local pharmacy in the coming weeks and months.
READ THIS NEXT: This Major Medication Shortage Has Patients “Scared,” New Report Says.
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One of the hallmarks of COVID is a sore throat, so it makes sense that people are snatching up throat-soothing lozenges and gargles. “The surge in sales of cough drops is thanks to three factors: a loosening of restrictions and return to normal socialization, a global surge in the highly contagious omicron variant, and its symptoms that are more akin to a traditional cold or flu compared to earlier strains,” Bloomberg reports.
In case you’re wondering, “lozenge tablets and cough drops are the same and have similar functions,” according to Quantum Health, which notes that both are recommended for sore throats and coughs. However, “although cough drops and lozenges are almost identical, they contain different (percentage) ingredients and work differently.” If you don’t have either, but a cough is bothering you, you can try some simple alternatives, such as honey.
READ THIS NEXT: If You Get Meds From CVS or Walgreens, Be Prepared for This Shortage.
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It may seem like your spring allergies immediately became fall allergies (although you should always consider the idea that your allergies could be caused by something in your home), but there are different peak time periods throughout the year for seasonal allergy sufferers. “Tree pollen pops up in the spring (generally in late March to April), grass pollen arrives in the late spring (around May), while weed pollen is most prevalent in the summer (July to August) and ragweed pollen takes over from summer to fall (late August to the first frost),” Purvi Parikh, MD, told Women’s Health.
That means the fall 2022 pollen count is reaching its peak now. Unfortunately, it also means that OTC allergy meds may be in short supply—especially when the season is “intense,” reported Fox5 DC. “If you’re suffering you may face even more challenges finding medicine,” said the site.
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At the beginning of the year, Fox29 Philadelphia reported issues with certain popular OTC medications. “Experts say ongoing supply chain
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