Pain Meds Shortage Force Two Biggest Pharmacy Retailers To Ration
The two largest pharmacy retailers are restricting orders for some pediatric pain medications as healthcare battles a strong season of flu, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 cases, The Hill reported Dec. 19.
Walgreens is capping online orders of over-the-counter pediatric fever reducers to six, and CVS narrowed all of its children’s pain relief medications — online and at its physical locations — to two per person.
Both CVS and Walgreens cited heightened demand as the reason for the purchase limits, according to The Hill.
The FDA has not listed a national shortage of any specific pediatric pain medications, but the demand hike coincides with a supply issue of multiple drugs used in young populations, including amoxicillin, amoxicillin and clavulanate, and children’s Tylenol.
