Epinephrine Injection Shortage
Last Updated: April 23, 2024
Status: Current
Products Affected - Description
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- Epinephrine injection, Pfizer, 0.1 mg/mL, 10 mL 20 gauge Luer Lock syringe, 10 count, NDC 00409-4933-01
Reason for the Shortage
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- Amphastar has epinephrine available. Their epinephrine is still a grandfathered product.[1]
- Pfizer has recently received FDA approval for their epinephrine 0.1 mg/mL 10 mL syringes. These have had a recent NDC change since the previous product was a grandfathered item.[2]
- BPI has epinephrine 1 mg/mL 2 mL ampules available.[3]
- Par has Adrenalin 1 mg/mL 1 mL and 30 mL vials available.[4]
Available Products
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- Adrenalin injection, Par Sterile Products, 1 mg/mL, 1 mL vial, 25 count, NDC 42023-0159-25
- Adrenalin injection, Par Sterile Products, 1 mg/mL, 30 mL multiple dose vial, 1 count, NDC 42023-0168-01
- Epinephrine injection, Amphastar, 0.1 mg/mL, 10 mL syringe, 10 count, NDC 76329-3318-01
- Epinephrine injection, Amphastar, 1 mg/mL, 30 mL vial, 1 count, NDC 76329-9060-00
- Epinephrine injection, BPI Labs, 0.1 mg/mL, 10 mL syringe, 10 count, NDC 54288-0155-10
- Epinephrine injection, BPI Labs, 1 mg/mL, 10 mL vial, 1 count, NDC 54288-0120-01
- Epinephrine injection, BPI Labs, 1 mg/mL, 2 mL containing 1 mL sulfite-free and preservative-free ampule, 10 count, NDC 54288-0103-10
Estimated Resupply Dates
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- Pfizer has epinephrine 0.1 mg/mL 10 mL Luer-Lock syringes on back order and the company estimates a release date of July 2024.[2]
Implications for Patient Care
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- Epinephrine emergency syringes are commonly used for treatment of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia unresponsive to initial defibrillatory shocks, pulseless electrical activity, and asystole.[5-6]
Safety
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- Epinephrine is a high alert medication and may cause significant patient harm when used in error.[6]
- Create a dose conversion chart reflecting available epinephrine concentrations to keep in code boxes and post in areas where epinephrine is frequently used.[7]
- Do not stock the 30 mL multi-dose vials in code boxes.[7]
- Routine bulk compounding is not an option due to epinephrine having a short stability time and sensitivity to pH, light, and air.[7]
Alternative Agents & Management
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- Consider conserving current supplies of epinephrine emergency syringes for code boxes or code situations.
- Consider limiting the number of emergency syringes that are stocked in the code boxes.[7]
References
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- Amphastar (personal communications). May 3 and 30, 2017; April 26, August 12, 2019; April 29, July 21 and 31, December 14, 2020; June 1, December 13, 2021; July 28, November 30, 2022; February 27, and October 23, 2023.
- Pfizer (personal communications and website). May 3 and 26, June 2 and 14, July 6, August 4 and 28, September 29, November 7 and 15, December 1 and 8, 2017; January 6, February 9 and 20, March 9, May 11, June 29, August 10 and 30, September 28, November 1, December 7, 2018; January 31, March 1 and 29, April 26, May 31, June 3, August 30, September 13, November 1, December 3, 2019; January 3, February 20, March 27, July 20 and 31, August 28, December 11, 2020; March 10, May 28, December 3, 2021; March 25, June 13, August 7, September 30, November 11, December 9, 2022; February 12, March 10 and 24, May 1 and 12, July 14 and 25, October 23, 2023; January 29, and April 22, 2024.
- BPI Labs. May 3 2017; and July 25, 2023.
- Par Pharmaceuticals. May 3, and June 12, 2017; and January 24, 2018.
- Epinephrine Injection product information. Lake Forest, IL: Hospira; 2016 March.
- Epinephrine. Lexi-Comp Online. Hudson, OH: Lexi-Comp Inc.; 2017.
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices. EPINEPHrine pre-filled syringe shortage. https://www.ismp.org/NAN/files/NAN-201006.pdf . Accessed May 31, 2017.
Updated
Updated April 23, 2024 by Michelle Wheeler, PharmD, Drug Information Specialist. Created May 4, 2017 by Michelle Wheeler, PharmD, Drug Information Specialist. © 2024, Drug Information Service, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
Further information
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