What's up with Coumadin - no longer available???

[Chrisandgary]

Today I tried to refill Gary's 7.5 mgs of Coumadin - Ekerd pharmacy told me to call around to other pharmacies as their supplier no longer has coumadin.
I called Rite Aid - same thing - told me they have none in stock and their supplier will not allow them to reorder. Called a second Rite Aid and was told they can refill this month - but may not have anymore when we need to refill next month. She also said they cannot reorder. I asked as to why - she does not know - she said it could be everyone is taking Warfarin and Coumadin may no longer be being produced. Helllllloooooo am I the only one panicking over this!!!! Shouldnt someone have told us this - the cardio, the pharmacist that we have been filling our rx's with for 6 years?
Has anyone run into this or could it just be a local, state problem?
Thanks!
Christine

 

[Rick W]

Hi Christine

I think you can relax because I called Walgreen's Pharmacy and they said they are not aware of any reorder issues with Coumadin. However it's generic Warfarin as you know is manufactured by numerous companies so it should be available forever. I am concerned because I may be on the stuff myself in the near future. So, no need to panic.

Rick

 

[Ross]

There is no difference between brand and generic. Al Lodwick has said that a number of times. I realize some people seem to believe they are more stable on Coumadin, but I've used both Coumadin and Warfarin and have seen no difference except price. There's always Janoven too. As far as I can tell, there is no shortage nor stop in production.

 

[Guest]

I just checked with the pharmacist for our outpatient clinic. They have a prescription for Coumadin 5 mg that they cannot fill. The drug is on backorder with no release date. What this means is never completely clear. It could be a strike at the company that makes the bottles for instance. It might have been a fire in the plant that prints labels. Or a hurricaine blew the roof off the plant that makes the stuff in another country. These shortages can last for months because people will use up all of the existing supplies and then trying to put every strength back in every pharmacy in the world will be a problem.

Just imagine the problem if there were no generics!! Even the stock of Lovenox would run out.