Is their a shortage of this drug?
Why is my drugstore unable to fill my oxymorphone saying that it’s still on back order?
Question posted by Zackyboy121114 on 4 Dec 2022
Last updated on 29 March 2023
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5 Answers
JBJfan30262
28 March 2023
I believe there is a shortage but just started today for my husband. I can’t believe he was told to call local pharmacies to see if they have any in stock. Isn’t that part of the pharmacy's job? I only say that because I don’t believe the pharmacies will give my husband the information. He’s been on the oxymorphone 5mg ir and the same strength ER 2 at a time four times daily for years because they couldn’t get the 10mg ones. I am on the same. I guess I’ll find out next month if I’ll get mine or not. I don’t go to the same pharmacy. Have you found any in stock anywhere in the state you live in? I hope you did. I have another question for you or anyone. Does the dosage seem like they’re working the same? We’ve noticed in the past few months that they’ve been weaker and making us tired.
They usually picked us up? I just read in another forum that the manufacturers can make the active ingredients in generics 25-33% weaker. I’m guessing this is the case. In my state, I’m only allowed equal to 100 mg of morphine. My husband is on palliative care and his is equal to 180 mg of morphine. Idk why it’s taking them over 3 years to get to me in their meetings but no meeting in sight soon for me. But that’s beside the point if we can’t get them anymore. I guess oxycodone will be the replacement if we can even get them. I looked on a shortage list, and it’s on there for some manufacturers, but quite a few still have them. Reasons for shortages the companies won’t say. I hope your situation has been taken care of.
burndonesinkchair
29 March 2023
Still no oxymorphone. In the meantime, I’ve been prescribed Nucynta. It’s not formulary and the equivalent dose required yet a 2nd authorization for quantity.
I was taking oxymorphone 10mg every 4-6 hours. Nucynta is at 75mg every eight hours. I think the oxymorphone was more effective, but not by much.
Drivefordough
17 March 2023
I have been unable to fill my RX for months , I have been taking it for years. I have good days and bad days , so I don’t always take my full daily dose . I have been able to put some away over the years . So I have a little , and am getting by , but I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel . I can’t even find anything online saying that there is a national shortage , other than here . My Dr. Said he will switch me to something else when I run out . Not looking forward to that . Oxymorphone is the only med I have found that takes my pain away and doesn’t make he feel high . He switched me years ago to oxycodone during another shortage . It made me high , and I went through withdrawal like symptoms. We quickly found out there was a generic available , so I was able to switch back. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the shortage ends soon.
aronmatmike
17 March 2023
My pharmacy "Walgreens", just informed me that i will get a 7 days supply this time after filling it for years. ER & IR version. Was told on backorder & to contact my Doctor for permanent replacement. I was told Monday Walgreens would contact my Doctor. The reason I asked them to is after getting a 30 days prescription. Then call the office a few days later & ask for another scrip of a different opioid. I wouldn't blame them if they thought I was crazy. What a mess. Have to go through the Insurance preauth. Ect Ect...
burndonesinkchair
17 March 2023
In which of the fifty states is your Walgreens expecting to have oxymorphone? I’m in California.
burndonesinkchair
14 March 2023
I can say that there is currently no known pharmacy in California that has any or enough to fill a month's prescription of oxymorphone. I was last able to fill my prescription in mid-November of 2022. My pharmacy is RiteAid, but once they were no longer able to acquire oxymorphone, I shopped around and it was universal. It wasn’t available via mail order from Costco, Target, Walmart, either. I contacted a few compounding pharmacies and they were refusing new prescriptions for oxymorphone due to the difficulties of obtaining enough of the ingredients to meet their existing customers' demand.
All of the pharmacies I reached out to do not know why they’re unable to obtain oxymorphone, nor do they have information about when they might get it.
I’m not satisfied by the answer I just wrote, but it is what I am experiencing in mid-March, 2023.
My physician has suggested Nucynta as a substitute, but I am awaiting insurance authorization and cannot say whether Nucynta will be a suitable replacement.
kevinb1953
5 Dec 2022
Hello.
My Pharmacy gets orders in every weekday so I don't know why yours can't unless it's a special or different manufacturer that they don't have or that you request. You should ask them. I know of no shortage but with China controlling most ingredients and Manufacturing it's possible.
You can also go to another pharmacy.
Best regards,
Kevinb1953
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Further information
- Oxymorphone uses and safety info
- Oxymorphone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Oxymorphone (detailed)
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