What Parents Need to Know About Amoxicillin Shortages
The amoxicillin shortage that complicated cold, flu, and RSV season last year is shaping up to be a problem this year, too, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and pediatric patients are the ones most likely to feel the effects.
Amoxicillin is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and while capsule and tablet forms of the drug are not experiencing a shortage, liquid amoxicillin is. That’s a problem for kids especially, who are often prescribed liquid amoxicillin due to discomfort or inability to swallow pils.
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Amoxicillin is a penicillin-like drug prescribed to treat a wide range of conditions caused by bacterial infections, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and other infections of the ears, nose, throat, and urinary tract, according to MedlinePlus. (Since it targets bacteria, amoxicillin is not an effective treatment against the common cold or flu, which are viral illnesses.)
The FDA is currently listing amoxicillin on its drug shortages list and noting that it’s available “on allocation,” which means customers can only order a limited amount — and pharmacies may quickly run out of their smaller supply more quickly.
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Some manufacturers are blaming the shortage on an increase in demand, according to CNN, something experienced during last year’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surge as well. (RSV is a viral infection, so amoxicillin doesn’t treat it directly, but it may be used for some of the complications that RSV can cause, such as more serious respiratory infections like pneumonia or bronchitis. These complications are more often seen in very young or immunocompromised children.) Other manufacturers have pointed to the low price of amoxicillin, which doesn’t incentivize pharmaceutical companies to increase their supply.
“When there are these big surges in respiratory viral illness, in ear infections and all the things that come with the winter months of the last year or two, the demand has really outweighed what our supply chains can produce,” Dr. Rohan Khazanchi, a pediatrician and medical resident at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston told CNN. “And as a result, the shortages are cropping up all over the country and affecting our patients.”
In the event that your child needs an antibiotic prescription, rest assured that there are alternatives to amoxicillin available. Your doctor can switch your prescription to a different antibiotic, although CNN noted that these substitute meds might come with more intense side effects.
As we prepare for cold and flu season, the best thing parents can do to keep their children safe is continue to prioritize personal hygiene. That includes regular hand-washing, proper sneezing and coughing etiquette, and staying home if you or your child feel sick, according to the CDC.
These preventative measures are especially important for families with children at high risk of severe illness from RSV and other respiratory viruses like it. Per the CDC, Vulnerable groups include premature babies, infants less than 6 months old, children with weakened immune systems, and children with congenital lung or heart disease.
And hey, let’s be real: With cold and flu season looming large and COVID-19 still ongoing, these are good practices for everyone to implement regardless of their age or risk factors.
A version of this article was originally published in October 2022.
Before you go, check out our favorite cough and cold products for kids that are all natural:
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