Health care systems in hospitals
across the country are grappling
with a nationwide shortage of
the asthma medication albuterol.
Who is affected and what's being
done about it.
>> Liquid albuterol is commonly
used in emergency departments as
a quick relief breathing
treatment for several chronic
lung diseases such as asthma,
COPD, covid-19, rsv and
pneumonia.
It has been on the fda's short
supply list since October.
Last month, acorn
pharmaceuticals, the primary
U.S. Manufacturer of liquid
albuterol, filed for bankruptcy
and closed operations.
We spoke to people who are
already feeling the impact.
>> I'm the director of pharmacy
at children's hospital in
Florida.
This shortage has been
significant.
Obviously working in a pediatric
hospital, we use quite a bit.
>> I live in Lincoln Nebraska.
I'm a mom of three.
They get four treatments a day
between the two of them.
One in the morning and one at
night before bed.
It's an albuterol sulfate
concentration and we just do it
through a nebulizer machine.
They have special attachments
that can attach it to their
ventilator circuit to make the
ventilator push it into their
lungs.
>> We have switched almost all
of our patients to the more
dilute product which is still
effective, but on the pharmacy
side created some challenges for
our patients that require
continuous albuterol treatments.
>> Last month they only gave me
a months supply.
Between the time that I had
their last one to the time that
they ordered the new one to get
into the pharmacy, I had dip
into my personal stash to give
them their meds.
Just so they can do the overlap
between I don't have any I have
some.
I get it twice a day and we go
through it twice as fast as a
normal typical family would.
>> We are seeing an increase in
flu, we are having some covid
patients, significant increase
in rsv and all of those patients
require albuterol.
We need additional manufacturers
to step up and start adding this
to their portfolio so that we
are not reliant on a single
source for the medication we
need for our patients.
>> The fda says they are working
closely with manufacturers to
address the shortage.
An allergist and immunologist in
Chicago and national
spokesperson for the American
lung association.
Think you for joining us.
As you just heard, albuterol is
used commonly to treat very
young children because they
can't use those inhalers.
Are you concerned about how this
shortage of liquid albuterol is
affecting that age group in
particular?
>> Very concerned because we are
talking about 25 million
asthmatics in the United States.
20 million people with COPD.
Long covid and we just came out
of a brutal respiratory viral
season where we used albuterol
tons.
Now we are heading into allergic
asthma season as well where we
are going to see a lot of kids
and adults impacted and needing
this life-saving drug because it
is used to open up the lungs
when all these kids and adults
aren't able to breathe.
This is why it is such an
important topic for us.
>> We heard that parent to say
she is basically rationing her
albuterol at home.
She's given her kids some of her
albuterol.
The other experts saying they
are having to dilute albuterol.
Is that what you are advising
your patients to do?
>> At this time unfortunately it
is being sent to the hospitals,
clinic's and parents at home or
anyone who use liquid albuterol
is not able to get it.
So we are advising if they have
any to possibly type -- do some
dilutions.
But it's not the best actual
option.
We want someone to relate to
step up and help with this
albuterol shortage especially as
we are heading into spring
allergy season.
Tons of asthmatics are triggered
by allergies at this time.
We are going to end up using a
lot of the actual reserve that
we have for liquid albuterol and
this is very concerning as we
are already in shortage.
>> Are there alternatives
especially for the younger
children who need to use liquid
albuterol with a nebulizer?
>> Currently have solutions.
The problem is the companies
haven't produced them in mass
quantities and it's hard for
actual insurance to cover it and
for parents to be able to afford
it.
That's the problem we are
currently running into.
>> Besides the very young and
the elderly who are not able to
use albuterol inhalers, it
sounds like people that are
particularly economically
vulnerable are at risk.
>> That is the population I'm
concerned with especially
because they were the hardest
hit communities.
By covid-19.
>> What do you see as the
solution?
>> I hope the fda will encourage
pharmaceuticals to really pitch
in.
Covid-19 has taught us that we
have to take care of each other
and I'm hoping pharmaceuticals
will step up to help with this
albuterol shortage so that we
don't have to outsource to other
countries for help to meet the
needs of all these asthmatics
and every child and adult with a
respiratory illness who
currently needs this medication
as a life-saving treatment.
>> From what I understand, there
is only one U.S. Manufacturer of
albuterol right now in operation
for a very common drug.
Dr. Juanita mora, thanks for
joining the newshour.
>> It is my pleasure.
People can learn more at