Aranesp shortage?
 

My mother was recently switched to Aranesp; today her nursing home called and said there was a shortage and the only places getting a supply are the major cancer treatment centers. So I will have to go to her nursing home twice a week and transport her to get her injection.

Has anyone else heard of this? I am going to make some calls tomorrow and see what I can find out.

Since there was such a drastic and sudden recall of procrit-- as a user I was affected thereby-- and since many users were switched to aranesp-- again, that applied to me-- it is likely that the sudden increased demand for aranesp has strained the available supplies.

OH, I hope it doesn't hit here. Once I was 3 days late due to a flood here and I started dropping like a rock. Hope everyone is doing OK. Anyone else having difficulty getting Aranesp?

Zoe

Zoe, I don't think it's a severe shortage, my mother had no problem getting it at the hospital ( Lahey Clinic). It's more the secondary sources that are having issues, like pharmacies.

It's a major hassle for me, though, since I work full time and I have trouble transporting my mother by myself.

Procrit Recall?
 

Hi
I just joined today and never had heard about a Procrit recall--I still have a dose in my fridge? Anyone have any info or can direct me? Thanks!

The procrit recall was massive. It was not an issue over the drug per se but rather over the glass containers in which the drug was shipped/stored. They sloughed off tiny glass particles that, if injected into a patient, could cause problems. I expect procrit will likely be unavailable for a fair time even if they did not have to solve whatever problem occurred with the formulation of the drug that related to the glass issue.

I emailed the FDA last week and received a reply today. They say Amgen is reporting they have product available, so I will have to check with the nursing home pharmacy.

The nurse at Lahey was aware of the shortage when I brought my mom in last week, so I'm not sure what to believe, hopefully it will resolve shortly.

Here is a link to the press release. The lot numbers of the vials being recalled are at the bottom of the page.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm227202.htm

(the Aranesp)

Got my aranesp today no problem, even down here in my rinky dink town. :)

Zoe