After infant formula and some drugs for pain and fever in children, it’s the turn of a drug for the treatment of ADD / HD to be out of stock. Alternatives exist on the market, but supplies are under pressure.
Biphentin, a drug used by some people with attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADD / H), is no longer available to pharmacists in Quebec. They expect to regain access to the product around mid-August.
According the website mandatory reporting of drug shortages and discontinuations in Canada, all dosages of Biphentin have been in “real shortage” since at least July 7.
Users of this drug can turn to some alternatives, including Concerta, a drug that contains the same active ingredient, methylphenidate.
However, the initial shortfall creates a “cascade effect” that affects replacement products, explains Marilie Beaulieu-Gravel, public affairs advisor for the Association québécoise des pharmacists proprietors. The availability of Concerta is also starting to tighten.
Supply chains involved
“Each time, pharmacists do acrobatics, miracles, to manage this kind of situation. We are used to stock shortages, unfortunately, “said Bertrand Bolduc, president of the Order of Pharmacists of Quebec, who wants to be reassuring about the shortage of Biphentin.
“We are in 2022, supply chains are problematic in all areas, and that affects medicines too,” he explains. To avoid problems, he advises all drug users not to wait until the last minute to replenish their stock at home.
In people with ADHD, the shortage does not seem to be causing any glaring problems at the moment. Danielle Rousseau, the president of the Regroupement des associations PANDA which offers help to these people across Quebec, has not heard of any difficulties related to the lack of Biphentin.
“Often, in the summer, the demand for these drugs is calmer anyway, since the school requirements are not there. Even if, sometimes, it can hang on to the day camp, ”notes Mme Rousseau.
“As there is an alternative option with the Concerta, I think it will be mainly a question of adaptation. But it will not be dramatic, ”she adds.
As for oral suspensions of Tylenol and Tempra for children, access to which has been difficult for several weeks, wholesalers are still experiencing supply problems these days, notes Mr. Bolduc.
“It’s probably because we’ve had a lot of COVID recently,” he explains. Since acetaminophen is usually in demand in winter, and not in spring and summer, supply chains would have been taken aback, believes the pharmacist. In his opinion, the situation should return to normal shortly for these products.