Lack of pediatric medications impacts a local pharmacy

Little Rock, Arkansas – A neighborhood drugstore is struggling with a kid’s medication shortage that is plaguing businesses all around America.

The demand for children’s medication at a time when flu, cold, and RSV cases are at an all-time high has resulted in months of shortages, according to Anne Pace, owner of Kavanaugh Pharmacy.

“I have no children’s ibuprofen or Tylenol because we haven’t been able to get it,” Pace said.

According to Pace, the issue is now affecting children’s over-the-counter medications.

“The prescription medicines I feel like a good part of my day, at the end of the day when I’m trying to place an order, is what’s in stock and how can I make that work,” Pace said.

Pace said they constructed a board with all the shortages of child’s medication which includes Amoxicillin, Cefdinir, liquid Ibuprofen, liquid Tylenol, Cipro eye drops, ciclopirox, Concerta, and Adderall.

“Every day it’s almost a new medication that we can’t get,” Pace said. “If we can’t find the liquid formulation, we have been able to keep in stock some of the suppositories which is not certainly preferred for most children but feeling bad that’s another option there are some powder pockets for older kids.”

According to Pace, Arkansas is not the only state where ordering medication for kids is a problem.

“There’s only 3 main wholesalers in the country and everyone is having the same issue,” Pace said.

She thinks the epidemic is to blame for the issue. “I think it’s very much supply and demand and the last 2 years with covid we haven’t needed a lot of these because we haven’t seen those upper respiratory infections,” Pace said.

The high number of respiratory virus cases among youngsters, according to Pace, suggests that suppliers are finding it difficult to meet demand. “We have a lot of flu going on right now, we have lots of respiratory infections, RSV is really prevalent in kids and so it’s kind of a perfect storm,” Pace said.

Paces claimed that her pharmacy collaborates with physicians to try and provide their clients with their medications or supply alternatives. She advises parents who are considering utilizing an at-home treatment to first consult their pediatrician or pharmacist.