NEWS: FDA reports shortage of doxycycline
The drug is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including Lyme disease.
From ConsumerReports.org, Feb. 4, 2013
The shortage of doxycycline recently announced by the Food and Drug Administration could leave many people searching for alternatives because the antibiotic is used to treat a wide range of conditions that afflict millions, including acne, bacterial infections, such as pneumonia and some sexually transmitted diseases, and Lyme disease. If that’s the case for you, talk to your doctor about your options before you run out of medication, because you should be able to find a suitable replacement in most cases.
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I recently had a serious problem with Vibramycin, the non-generic version of Doxycycline. Every time I took a dose, symptoms got worse, even got to the point where we considered going to the hospital. Was already on it for years, so this was not a normal herx reaction. I can’t take Doxycycline ( the generic) since Watson changed the formula 9 years ago. Was unable to get my Vibramycin renewed from a different lot number because they were backordered at every single pharmacy. Had to change medications. More than once, I asked the manufacturer whether they changed the formula but no response.
The shortage is such a lie . Other companies buy out the medications, then jack up the price. The same doxycycline is given to equines yet there’s no shortage and the cost is miniscule compared to what the pharmacy charges!
You could well be right about the shortage being generated, though I’m not sure about that. I’ve heard before that one of the major manufacturers closed, leaving a major shortage of the drug. I’m not sure if that’s true though either.
I don’t doubt your reference to equine medicine, though I have no exposure to horses or the medication for them. I do know that I’d have to be pretty desperate and would first research before I used the equine form of the drug. A horse drug is not the same thing as a human drug, even if the same chemicals are used to manufacture it and the dose is the same. There are not the same manufacturing regulations or protections. And there might be some minor differences that can affect how a human body will interact with it. This is the same reason that it isn’t wise to buy Viagra over the internet for $3 instead of at your pharmacy for $45. It might be the same drug, but it might be a poor substitute that will do more than not work in the intended way.
So, I’d be curious to see if you had some evidence to say the drug shortage is all due to market manipulation. It may well be true, I just don’t know it. And I won’t take a horse pill.