Methotrexate shortage decalred over

[Stinky The Clown]

Here's a link to the story in the NYTimes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/health/policy/fda-approves-imports-amid-shortage-of-2-cancer-drugs.html

The story is pretty simple. This drug, used to treat little kids with leukemia, is a low profit drug. Nobody wants to make it because there's not enough money in it. So the FDA twisted some arms and got one of the manufacturers to ramp it up . . . . a little. But the fix is at best temporary.

Now, Viagara? Cialis? No worry. Be happy. Weeeeeeeeee! Gettumup, partner. Yee Hah.

[HopeHoops]

1. A meth shortage? Dang - that's gonna fuck up the GOP base.

[mdmc]

2. I never knew that there was a shortage

Good ol USA

[taught_me_patience]

3. Methotrexate saved my sister's life

It completely destroyed the cancer she had. I'm glad it's available again.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Wikipedia has some interesting bio on the guy who developed methotrexate ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellapragada_Subbarao

[dana_b]

5. good. it is also used for people with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

I wish that my mom had lived long enough to be offered the opportunity to use it. I don't think it was used on lupus patients until the aughts.

[TBF]

8. My dad was able to use it experimentally back in the 80s

and it helped immensely with his arthritis. Now there are newer drugs - I am on one of the biologic DMARDs - but there is always the risk of infection: http://arthritis.about.com/od/brms/Biologic_DMARDs_Dosage_Side_Effects_Interactions_Warnings.htm

The thing about Methotrexate now is that it should be quite a bit cheaper than the newer drugs (my biologic is $50/month and that is with insurance), so of course the companies want to push the new drugs despite the fact that there are serious potential side effects.

[SmileyRose]

10. methotrexate has its own side effects

Some of ain't pretty

As with any pill...

[lib2DaBone]

6. There is a shortage of ALL critical drugs in the U.S.....

The Bankers have bleed us dry.. literally.

If we have Tornados, Earthquakes, Hurricanes... there are NO CRITICAL DRUG SUPPLIES to be had.

Of course.. there will never be another earthquake or hurricane or tornado... so we don't have to worry.

[varelse]

7. kicking 'cause this needs attention

and it's good news, if only a temporary fix.

[finecraft]

9. Thank you Stinky for posting this

I've been on Methotrexate for over 2 years now for treatment of sarcoidosis. I never knew there was a shortage of the drug. About 3 months ago I noticed the pills were different from the one I had been getting. I asked the pharmacy, and they told me they had gotten them from a different supplier. Nice to know why. Thank you again for the info.

[Sgent]

11. Two issues here

there are two (easily confused) drugs in play in this situation.

Methotrexate as used in 90% of the cases has no availability issues.

However, in certain types of cancer, the drug is directly injected into the spinal fluid rather than given by IV. In these cases the preservative used in the normal drug cannot be used, which means it has a short shelf life from manufacturing to injection (days or weeks).

The company that made this particular form of it had to be shut down due to problems in its manufacturing process -- and they were the only ones who made it.