Friday, June 29, 2012 kansasgail asks

Q: Shortage of Nubain?

When I have a migraine that is helped by nothing else I go to the dr. office and he gives me an injection of nubain, phenergan and toradol. I (and his other migraine patients) are now being told that he cannot get nubain, that it is being backordered until early 2013. Has anyone else heard of this problem? Is there another non-narcotic med that would work? Some patients are given stadol in combination with the other two drugs but I am allergic to stadol.

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Answers (6)

Teri Robert, Health Guide

7/ 3/12 8:27pm

Actually, what the FDA site says is "Next delivery July," not "next July." Since it's July now, you might want to have your pharmacy check again. You can also keep an eye on current drug shortages through FDA.gov.

Hope this helps!
Teri

Nancy Harris Bonk

7/ 1/12 3:12pm

Hi kansasgail,

Nubain is listed on the FDA drug shortage list - not available until "Next July" it says .

But here's the thing - how may Migraine attacks are you getting a month? Anyone who has three or more Migraines a month needs to be talking with their doctor about prevention. There's growing evidence that Migraine is a progressive brain disease. A recent study showed that Migraines can cause brain damage, and that people with three or more Migraines a month are more susceptible to this damage. For more information, see Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?, Yes, Migraines Can Cause Brain Damage, and Migraine with Aura Linked to Late-Life Brain Lesions.

Another article you may find interesting is Opioids for Migraine - Why Not?

Good luck

Nancy

H. Tucker

9/26/12 2:18am

I am going thru the same thing. I suffer from Chronic Migrains and Nubain with phenagren is the only thing that works for me. The have been giving me toredol but after giving myself the injections over a period of time all it does now is take the edge off. I have been on so many preventive drugsover the years, however theere are always the one migrain that knocks you dwn. good luck

Dee

1/ 2/13 5:05pm

I have the same problem and use the same meds for migraines. The problem is that there is only one company HOSPRIA manufacturing this med now. They had promised release for 12/2012 and now are saying second quarter of 2013. You are not missing anything with the stadol as it pales in comparisom. I am in the same boat. It is easier to get a lobotomy then get stronger drugs for migraines from a Doctor. HOSPRIA....get your act together. Migraines are real and not at all a "headache".

Dee

1/ 2/13 5:05pm

Teri Robert, Health Guide

1/ 2/13 5:30pm

Injectable Nubain is my rescue too. I don't know that this is the problem in this case, but there used to be several manufacturers. As you not, now there's on Hospira. When that happens, it's usually because the drug isn't being used enough for the company to justify the cost of producing it.

I, for one, am going to talk with my Migraine specialist about changing to a different rescue medication.

Teri

monkeybum

1/11/13 3:12pm

This time there was a recall (in November) because some of the flip tops on the vials were not sealed properly. Or at least that's what my pharmacist told me. I'm having Trinity Pharmacy compound it for me and ship it to me, but it is prohibitively expensive, especially considering that I was getting the Hospira vials for $7.50 each. I'm very frustrated with Hospira. I called the company to see if I could get a more specific answer in December, and I was told it would be available in December. Now the website says January! It's very frustrating.

laschancepawn

1/25/13 7:59pm

Yes go to a compounding pharmacy which does sterile compounds. They can get Nalbuphine powder and mix it at the pharmacy if your doctor writes for injectibles. Ask the doctor if he doesn't write patients injectibles to please get them himself. The pharmacy is not a manufacturer but they can make it if the doctor OK's it.

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