Health Canada was scheduled to speak with manufacturers on Thursday to discuss ways to increase supplies, amid a nationwide shortage of pain relievers and fever reducers for children.
Parents across the country have found empty shelves looking for pediatric acetaminophen and ibuprofen products like liquid Tylenol and Advil, or chewable her tablets.
Recent conflicting advice from health authorities has created confusion about how to purchase products and raises concerns about potential panic buying.
Pharmacists and other health authorities are urging the public not to hoard medicines. Back-up options are available and pharmacists can provide personalized advice on treating your child.
Can you share any questions or experiences you have about medication shortages in children? ask@cbc. Send an email to ca
. do i need a prescription?
No, you don't need a prescription for pediatric acetaminophen or ibuprofen products. They are over-the-counter drugs, but due to current shortages they may not be on the shelves of some stores.
please. Apothecaries can help you by:
- Dispense small amounts from large stock bottles.
- Formulate customized dosages from basic ingredients.
- Advise children on how to properly dose adult products.
Pharmacists are experts in customizing medicines for their patients, and can easily do so if requested, said Bertrand Bordac, president of the Quebec Pharmacists Association.
"We have access to the active ingredients, we have the recipe, we know how to mask the taste of the medicine, so when it comes down to it, we make it ourselves," he told CBC Radio. 32} Daybreak Montreal
It is up to individual pharmacies to decide whether to charge dispensing fees for drugs from stock bottles or for compounded drugs. Several pharmacists told CBC News.
See | Do not stockpile children's medicines, parents urged:
Pharmacists rush to buy painkillers for children as they run out
Why are people talking about prescriptions when they don't need one?
On Monday, her SickKids Hospital in Toronto told patients' parents and caregivers to take at-home children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen because of a nationwide shortage. Informed that a prescription for the product would be required.
But on Tuesday, the hospital clarified its adviceand "recommended" prescriptions "to help secure access" to larger stock bottles in pharmacies. that its original message was not intended for the general public.
According to the Ontario Pharmacists Association , prescriptions are useful because they tell pharmacists the proper amount of medicine to dispensate for each individual child. Label based on age and weight. However, a prescription is not required.
Can my child take adult acetaminophen or ibuprofen?
That is possible, but parents should seek advice from a pharmacist on the proper dosage for their child, Jamie Wigston (West End, New Westminster, BC). Medicine Center pharmacist and BC Pharmacy Association.
Older children may be able to swallow part of an adult tablet, but for younger children, the tablets may be crushed and taken with an apple. It must be mixed into foods such as sauces, or custom liquids formulated by pharmacists.
"Even if the specific products most parents are familiar with are not available, there are certainly many options." said Wigston.
Can I give my child an expired pediatric drug?
Before going this route, talk to your pharmacist. Please, said Barry Power, editor-in-chief of the Canadian Pharmacists Association,
"Various factors influence when deciding whether to use an expired drug."
Why are there shortages now?
Some pharmacists in Canada have said that as pandemic measures have been lifted and Canadians have returned to their normal lives. , reports that over-the-counter drugs used to treat fevers, colds, and flu are in short supply in both children and adults, and activity, leading to more virus spread.
Saskatchewan Pharmacy Association Michael Fougere, CEO , said:
Manufacturers are also facing supply chain challenges through the pandemic.
Pharmaceutical giant GS Advil maker Hareon, a division of K Canada, said it was addressing shortages of raw materials, packaging and labor.
"We are working tirelessly with our suppliers, manufacturing partners and the government to address these issues and bring inventory levels back to meet current demand," the company said. in a statement to CBC News.
What is being done to address the shortage?
Most of Canada's acetaminophen and ibuprofen products are produced domestically, with manufacturers ensuring their facilities are "operating at maximum capacity," he said. said.
Haleon, the maker of Tylenol and Motrin, he Johnson & Johnson also questioned whether domestic production could be further increased or products could be redirected from abroad to Canada. didn't answer the question.
Power told CBC News that his organization was at a conference on supply with Health Canada and manufacturers on Thursday afternoon. said to participate.
A Health Canada spokeswoman said on Thursday that consultations were underway on the extent of the shortage and ways to alleviate it. A day earlier, officials said that "regulatory measures to accelerate resupply" were possible, but did not provide further details.
According to Power , one possible solution, as in the case of Spanish-labeled inhalers, is to provide health care to Health Canada until the shortage is eliminated. during the 2020 shortage.
Will there be a shortage of adult medicines?
There are no signs of a shortage of adult acetaminophen and ibuprofen products, Power said.
These products are manufactured by more companies. This means more brands are available, including generic products.
Everyone says don't rush to buy, but you should stock up anyway.
Pharmacists argue that scenarios like the toilet paper hoarding of early 2020 will never be repeated.
Every day, or every week, there are still products on sale," said Tim Smith, a Pharmacist in Winnipeg and Advisor to Pharmacy Practices in Manitoba Pharmacists. Told.
"Pharmacists are experts in solving drug shortages and can help find the right medicine for your child."
Some pharmacies offer pediatric pain relief. They preemptively move their remaining stock of medicines and pyrogens behind the counter to discourage panic buying, Power notes, and customers who encounter empty shelves should check with their pharmacist. Are the drugs you said you need to still be available and what are the alternatives?
When will the shortage end?
Hareon and Johnson & Johnson did not respond to questions about when the product would become more available across Canada.
Some pharmacists told CBC News he was unable to order any more children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen products from the company's warehouse and was unable to return the products. He said he had no due date.
Power warned that there could be a further surge in illness when children return to school next month. Limited supply already.
He urged parents to ensure that their children's vaccinations against diseases were up to date in order to keep their children as healthy as possible.