“Everyone and their brother needs antibiotics right now,” she told The Post. And “the pharmacist said, ‘Listen, I’ll tell you right now, nobody has amoxicillin.’ ” Since last spring, US parents have had to deal with a milk shortage that has left thousands struggling to feed their infants and continues to persist despite Abbott’s Michigan plant reopening in July. Now, just in time for the start of cold and flu season, moms and dads are facing a shortage of another parenting essential: amoxicillin. The commonly prescribed antibiotic, often used to treat ear infections and bronchitis, has been added to the Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortage list. it specifically affects “amoxicillin oral powder”, which pharmacists use to mix a liquid version of the drug that is easy to give to young children. Kate Brown, a mother of three, struggled to get her daughters liquid amoxicillin due to shortages. Here, she is pictured with her 2-year-old daughter, Genevieve, who has a double ear infection and was eventually prescribed an amoxicillin side drug called cefdinir. Courtesy of Kate Brown “[My daughter] she can’t swallow pills, she only tolerates liquid amoxicillin,” Brown, who lives in Detroit, told The Post. “We had to call the doctor to get a replacement.” Lydia was eventually prescribed an amoxicillin side drug called cefdinir, but Brown was initially reluctant to give it to her. She recently took it herself when she was sick and had palpitations, but had no choice but to give it to her daughter. After several visits to the doctor and urgent care, little Genevieve was finally prescribed liquid Augmentin, a drug that combines amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Brown was again hesitant. Amoxicillin, the commonly prescribed antibiotic often used to treat ear infections and bronchitis, was added to the Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortage list on Oct. 28. MediaNews Group via Getty Images “He’s never had it before. “Obviously, when you add a secondary drug there’s probably more risk for side effects, but Urgent Care said they can’t take liquid amoxicillin,” Brown said. “It’s a little weird.” Doctors are just as outraged as parents. Deborah Greenhouse, a pediatrician and mom in Columbia, South Carolina, is frustrated about the difficulties she faces treating her patients due to shortages in several popular, essential medications. “Today: I tried to prescribe amoxicillin for an ear infection: The pharmacy didn’t have it. I tried to prescribe Tamiflu for the flu. The pharmacy didn’t have it. Tried prescription adderall for adhd,” Greenhouse recently tweeted. “The pharmacy didn’t have it. If that doesn’t bother you, it should.” Today: I tried to prescribe amoxicillin for an ear infection: The pharmacy didn’t have it. I tried to prescribe Tamiflu for the flu. The pharmacy didn’t have it. I tried to prescribe adderall for ADHD. The pharmacy didn’t have this. If that doesn’t bother you, it should. #tweetiatrician — Deborah Greenhouse (@greenhousemd) November 4, 2022 Yesterday I had to wait over an hour for amoxicillin (I have strep) at a busy CVS that involved picking up vax’s & meds, with only 1 pharmacist and 1 pharmacist on duty. It was crazy and they did their best. An older woman behind me was complaining the whole time, — lianne kulik (@lianne_kulik) November 3, 2022 Greenhouse told The Post that she and her colleagues have started giving patients electronic and paper prescriptions so they can more easily go to multiple pharmacies looking for liquid amoxicillin or other medications. “We’re putting the work back into the hands of the family instead of coming back to us. Our phones are literally ringing off the hook. Our office staff can’t keep up,” he said. “There are so many sick kids out there, there’s just no way to handle it.” The amoxicillin shortage comes as children’s hospitals have been inundated with respiratory syncytial virus cases. While amoxicillin is not used to treat RSV, the disease predisposes some young children to secondary bacterial infections, such as ear infections, which are usually treated with amoxicillin. Bacterial infections, such as ear infections, are usually treated with amoxicillin. Shutterstock Deborah Greenhouse, a South Carolina-based pediatrician and mom, says there have been shortages of several popular, essential medications. “Our phones are literally ringing off the hook. Our office staff can’t keep up,” he told The Post.NY Post in the composite photo footage It’s enough to send parents across the country into a tailspin. Samantha, a Westchester County mother of two who declined to give her last name, had been making formula for months to feed her 5-month-old baby. Now, she worries about what might happen if and when her children need amoxicillin this winter. “As a parent it’s really worrying not to be able to find the basic things you need for your children,” she said. “And it’s even more stressful to have to compete with people who are looking for the same things.”
