Acyclovir Shortage in the US..

Has anyone noticed that there is a shortage of Acyclovir in the US? I live on the East coast and have found that it is very hard to get my prescription re-filled.

I take 400mg x2 a day for suppression and I have only been able to get 200mg. With some difficulty I might add. It isn't the end of the world but I am concerned about the supply in a month when I go for another re-fill.

I read on the FDA web site that there is currently a shortage.
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm

Does anyone else find this odd? How does something like this happen?

Pretty interesting that this shortage happens just as Valtrex is going off of patent. Maybe they are gearing up to move everyone to generic Valtrex which I am sure will have a greater profit margin than acyclovir.  I would hate to think that the drug companies are going to try to force people into a more expensive option but it wouldn't surprise me.

I know there are people here that are more "plugged in" to this industry/topic than I am. Do you have any thoughts?

I would be interested to know.

[gracefromHHP]

It appears that Teva has a shortage of several of their medications. No idea if it's a manufacturing issue or what for them.

Of course we can be conspiracy theorists and say they just want to make us pay more for generic valtrex so they can make more money off of us.....he he he  I'm not above ruling that out either.  

grace

[hinfo411]

I sure hope I am wrong about the conspiracy theory..

The FDA posting seems to indicate that several of the manufacturers are backordered now. Surely just Teva being backordered couldn't account for the massive shortage there seems to be.. In fact, I read read an article on the American Society of Health System Pharmacists that says that Watson and Mylan have discontinued their production.

http://www.ashp.org/Import/PRACTICEANDPOLICY/PracticeResourceCenters/DrugShortages/GettingStarted/CurrentShortages/Bulletin.aspx?id=591

Just out of curiosity, do you know when generic valtrex will be available in the US?

[gracefromHHP]

it's been available in the US since december :)

grace

[RxWriter]

I am a health care provider who USED to write Rx for Valtrex,  but watching the unethical behavior of GSK in their drive to keep the prices up high, how they treat their sales staff and the unreasonable drug costs for the last several years I have been a devoted writer of generic Acyclovir.  
I am CONVINCED that GSK has everything to do with a sudden shortage of acyclovir and the pressure on generic manufacturers to stop producing.... martha stewart should not have spent the time in jail compared to these corporate jerks who only take care of their shareholders and CEO's.  

remember yoga and meditation are also very helpful to reduce outbreaks.... dont feel trapped by this nonsense.

[hinfo411]

so what are you doing now that acyclovir is harder to find? Are you still prescibing it? Do you have any information about when acyclovir will start to be available again?

The FDA has not update their information in about 10 days though they say that Teva will start shipping next week.

Any information you might have would be helpful.

[gracefromHHP]

Most folks can still get acyclovir - just not always in the doses they usually do. You can get 200mg tablets and take 2 at a time or get 800mg tablets and cut them in half with a pill cutter.

grace

[ntgal]

I've checked two local pharmacies and online.  Blue Shield's price for Valtrex is $175.00 vs. Acyclovir at $10.00 per perscription.  Tell me the manufacturers aren't trying to gouge us.  This is a drug that's been on the market for decades, millions of people take it regularly, it has no adverse effects that I've found and there is no reason to pay that much for something used that widely and that often.

[gracefromHHP]

teva has a big shipment this week I believe.  should be easier to get any day now.

valtrex is now a generic too and should be cheaper esp if you have insurance.

grace

[somebody_else312]

I don't know whether this is related, but Kaiser has switched sources for generic acyclovir twice in the last few months. And that's after buying from the same manufacturer for many years.

Worse, the stuff I'm getting now does not work as well. How can I know whether the capsules I'm getting contain the full 200mg? No one will run a test like that without charging a fortune, and things being the way they are, I wouldn't have confidence in the result anyway. And even if it did confirm my suspicion, there's nothing I could do about it.

The world is getting worse in so many ways. I don't have confidence that I can get the truth from anywhere any more...

[gracefromHHP]

I can't imagine that kaiser is buying generics from an unreliable source.  you can google the maker of your acyclovir to see which company they are ( the manufacturer is on the label of your prescription ).  

when you say they aren't working as well - are you just taking acyclovir to treat your recurrences or are you taking daily suppressive therapy?