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The high demand for influenza medication following the swine flu pandemic has created a shortage in pre-bottled liquid Tamiflu, an antiviral drug primarily used by children.

So many pharmacists across New Jersey and the nation have pulled out the mortar and pestle to create alternative batches of the medicine by combining Tamiflu capsules - used by adults - and syrup.

Mark Taylor, owner of Jersey Shore Pharmacy in Egg Harbor Township, said his business starting mixing its own store-version in mid-October after they sold out of the pre-manufactured bottled liquid. Most of the demand has come from local pediatricians, and the pharmacy has filled out more than 300 prescriptions.

"We've been doing so many of them, we try to stay ahead of it and make enough to last through the day," Taylor said Friday, adding that he has tried to re-order liquid Tamiflu for three months, without any luck, and the store has been making the medicine in pints at a time.

While Taylor said compounding medicines is a common pharmacy service, this is the first time he has had to create many doses of the same product in the more than six years the store has been in business.

Swine flu, a dangerous and sometimes deadly form of influenza, first was reported in the United States last spring. About 22 million people in the U.S. were infected with swine flu from April to October, resulting in the deaths of about 3,900 people, including 540 children, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since swine flu is considered a national health emergency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent out notices last week instructing pharmacists on how to make large quantities of liquid Tamiflu. The government agency also changed some of the restrictions on using the medication to treat babies under 1 year-old.

Large companies with drugstores also have been instructed to provide Tamiflu compounds, including CVS, Kmart (which has pharmacies in Somers Point, Middle Township, Stafford Township and Vineland) and Target (which has pharmacies in Mays Landing, Millville and Stafford Township).

Demand for Tamiflu jumped in June when the World Health Organization officially declared H1N1 virus a pandemic disease, said Kristine Becker, a spokeswoman for Roche, the drug's manufacturer. Roche has primarily focused on making capsules because it can make 25 times more doses, Becker said.

Roche is still making the bottled Tamiflu, and more supplies will be available next month, Becker said.

Harvey Maldow, CEO of the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, said this is the first time he has seen a massive number of pharmacists from independent and chain companies compound one specific type of medicine because of a shortage.

"When there's a situation like this, people step up," Maldow said.

Another medicine used in the fight against seasonal influenza is the flu shot, and this is the first year certified New Jersey pharmacists have been allowed to administer vaccinations, Maldow said. He estimated that more than 100,000 flu immunizations have been administered so far this year in the Garden State.

The Reef Family Pharmacy in Middle Township has been making its own version of Tamiflu since it opened Oct 13, said owner Scott Reef.

"Almost right away we were getting calls from pediatric offices (and) Cape Urgent Care," Reef said. "We've been able to supply the need for those (clients) almost from the beginning."

Reef said he has sold 34 Tamiflu compounds ranging from 25 to 50 milliliters. The store also sold 50 packets of Tamiflu capsules, which have a higher medicine concentration and are intended for adults and teenagers, Reef said.

Josiah Bunting, of Bunting Pharmacy in Northfield, said he has been making liquid Tamiflu to order for two months ever since his supply ran out.

"We've been doing the last three weeks about five (orders) a week," Bunting said.

He noted that his store also has about 100 boxes of the capsule Tamiflu.

Bunting said mixing compound Tamiflu is relatively easy, and takes him only about five minutes to prepare. He started doing it in September when a family with two children bought his last bottle and he wanted to provide enough medicine for the family to finish the entire round of treatment.

"It's just important to finish the therapy," Bunting said. "Sometimes you see ... children who are older who feel better, but you want to knock the whole thing out because this swine flu is not something you want to mess around with."

What is Tamiflu?

Tamiflu is an antiviral prescription drug that attacks influenza and reduced flu symptoms. The medicine comes in capsule and liquid form and it is made by Roche, a global healthcare company headquartered in Switzerland. Tamiflu should be taken within 48 hours of developing flu symptoms and it should not be considered a substitute for the flu vaccine, according to Roche.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Roche

For more information, visit www.tamiflu.com or the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control’s Tamiflu question and answer site

www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm188859.htm

Contact Michelle Lee:

609-272-7256

MLee@pressofac.com

1 comment:

• whyoknabth (151) posts 2:44 am

  Having spent 10 days in the hospital with swine flu, I can tell you it's no joke. Tamiflu was not enough to knock out a temperature that stayed between 106 & 108, with a WBC off the charts. Had to have 2 of the strongest antibiotics that can only be given IV in the hospital & it was still touch & go for several days. Add to that, partial lung collapses on both sides. The govt. has been warning the public for months. Get the vaccine if you can, this disease is truly a killer. can't imagine a child going thru what I did. Horrific!!

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