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Nationwide drug shortage felt in Capital Region
Reported by: Kristin Lowman Email: kristinlowman@fox23news.com
Updated: 4:42 pm

It is a drug that doctors rely on to treat certain kinds of cancers, now there is a shortage across the country.
That shortage is being felt by doctors and families at Albany Medical Center.

Parker Ragone is your average 2-year-old, happy and hungry.

Now, this guy and his parents have a special mission.

Courtney Ragone, Parker's mom, says, "Say it again....."

Parker says, "Kick 'kemia's butt."

In October, Parker was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Part of his treatment is a chemotherapy drug called Methotrexate, it is a drug that is now running out across the country.

Courtney Ragone says, "It scares us to death it is an important drug to his treatment and for him to be cured at 90 percent, we need that drug."

Parker's oncologist Dr. Vik Kanwar says one of the four plants in the country that makes Methotrexate has shut down, causing the shortage.

At Albany Med, about a half dozen children are given the drug each week.

They are monitoring their supply daily and say they have about a month's worth of treatments right now.

Dr. Kanwar says, "Triaging and seeing who needs the drug the most. If we can postpone giving the drug safely, we are doing that.".........................>>>>...................>>>>.........................http://www.fox23news.com/news/.....VDLCWhGQ.cspx?rss=39

Let the rationing begin.  

Methotrexate Shortage Eases
February 16, 2012

Fresh supplies of methotrexate are slated for release this month, relieving a serious shortage of the important
oncology and rheumatology drug, according to the FDA.

But the American Society of Hematology (ASH) noted that many other cancer drugs remain in short supply and
urged Congress, the FDA, and the Drug Enforcement Administration to take more aggressive action to prevent
drug shortages and mitigate any that do arise.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Chemotherapy/31211

drugs are made from petroleum. keep making sure that goes up and drugs too will rise. But don't tell liberals- they want to make sure we don't drill or refine any of our own oil.

I've been on Methotexate for the past 3 years .. haven't heard of any shortage, nor had a problem getting it, so far ... but then again, I'm private pay.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

drugs are made from petroleum. keep making sure that goes up and drugs too will rise. But don't tell liberals- they want to make sure we don't drill or refine any of our own oil.

Well, that was a dumb statement.

If we don't hydrofrac the children will die?
Do you have any inkling of how little petroleum is used to make a drug as compared to how much is used to run your insecurity-mobile SUV?

Or didn't your keepers on FOX tell you?

I was more worried about the use of petroleum and NASCAR.....

the drugs required machinery to make them.....

Heard from some folks that work at albany med onocology who said that there certainly was a shortage (and not only at albany med) and that was the reason it was made public. Perhaps that made a difference.

Although there seems to be an underlying rumor that insurances (both private and government) are quibbling over the cost!

Maybe that's why private pay has no problem getting them.  I take 6 pills, once a week - so it's only 24-30 pills a month and the cost is about $31/month at walmart for the generic.

Quoted from bumblethru

Heard from some folks that work at albany med onocology who said that there certainly was a shortage (and not only at albany med) and that was the reason it was made public. Perhaps that made a difference.

Although there seems to be an underlying rumor that insurances (both private and government) are quibbling over the cost!

I have been fighting for 1 week to get a certain drug covered....it's a joke.....they say yes,,,then call back and 'pretend' they never knew about the prior authorization number they gave me....

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FDA Acts To Stem Shortages Of Cancer Drugs Doxil And Methotrexate
Posted: 02/21/2012 10:11 am

Feb 21 (Reuters) - The Food and Drug Administration is addressing the U.S. shortage of critical cancer medications by importing one drug from abroad and rushing the approval of another.

The move announced on Tuesday is the latest government effort to stem the shortages of drugs in the United States, which doctors and patient advocates say have forced providers to postpone care or use second-best or costlier alternatives.

The FDA said it would allow cancer drug Doxil to get shipped from abroad and also approve a new manufacturer of methotrexate, a drug used to treat childhood leukemia.

Doxil, a cancer drug from Johnson & Johnson, has been in persistent short supply since manufacturing problems surfaced at a plant of Ben Venue, a unit of German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim.

The injectable drug, which has annual global sales of about $500 million, is used to treat ovarian cancer and multiple myeloma.

The plant's problems have also contributed to a shortage of methotrexate, leading U.S. lawmakers to call for action last week from the FDA and the manufacturers.

President Barack Obama made shortages a national priority with an executive order in October, and the FDA has prevented 114 shortages since then by working with manufacturers.

The FDA has said the number of drugs in short supply had risen to 220 in 2011 from 56 in 2006 -- the year a clear trend started emerging........................>>>>......................>>>>........................http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/doxil-methotrexate-cancer-drug-shortage-fda_n_1290696.html

On the news last nite...drugs will be made in India.....should have llistened to the whole story...

but sure it will be on again...

Quoted from Patches

On the news last nite...drugs will be made in India......

Why? Can't make them in this country?

what is nowadays.....

we are a lost country right now......

I just had my script refilled last night.  Pharmacist told me it's IV Methotrexate thats short right now, no PO.