Drug Shortages in Canada: Why They Happen and What to Do

Drug Shortages Are More Common Than You Think

On any given day, hundreds of prescription drugs are in active shortage across Canada. From common blood pressure medications to critical cancer drugs, shortages disrupt treatment for thousands of Canadians annually.

Understanding why shortages happen — and knowing what to do when they affect you — can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a health crisis.

Why Drug Shortages Happen

Manufacturing Issues

The majority of drug shortages stem from manufacturing problems:

• Factory shutdowns for maintenance or regulatory compliance
• Quality control failures leading to batch recalls
• Raw material shortages — many drug ingredients come from a small number of global suppliers
• Natural disasters or geopolitical events disrupting supply chains

Market and Economic Factors

• Low profit margins on generics — manufacturers sometimes discontinue low-profit drugs
• Increased demand — a new clinical guideline or pandemic can spike demand overnight
• Just-in-time inventory — pharmacies and wholesalers keep minimal stock, leaving little buffer

Regulatory Issues

• Compliance failures — if Health Canada or the FDA shuts down a manufacturing facility, supply can drop overnight
• Import restrictions — Canada cannot always quickly import alternatives from other countries

How Serious Is the Problem?

High-Profile Shortages

Recent years have seen shortages of:

• Children's pain medications (acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
• ADHD medications (Adderall, Vyvanse)
• Certain cancer drugs (methotrexate, vincristine)
• Antibiotics (amoxicillin)
• EpiPens (epinephrine auto-injectors)

How to Check If Your Drug Is in Shortage

Canada has a mandatory reporting system for drug shortages. Manufacturers must report shortages and discontinuations to the Drug Shortages Canada database.

Checking the Database

Visit drugshortagescanada.ca

Search by drug name, DIN, or manufacturer

Filter by status (active shortage, anticipated shortage, resolved)

Check the estimated resolution date

Your pharmacist also has access to real-time supply information and can check for you.

What to Do When Your Drug Is in Shortage

Step 1: Do Not Panic — and Do Not Stockpile

Hoarding creates artificial shortages and makes the problem worse for everyone. Work with your healthcare team instead.

Step 2: Talk to Your Pharmacist

Your pharmacist is your first line of defence. They can:

• Check if the drug is available from a different manufacturer (same generic, different brand)
• Contact other pharmacies or wholesalers
• Arrange a partial fill to bridge the gap
• Suggest over-the-counter alternatives for some medications

Step 3: Contact Your Doctor

If no supply is available, your doctor can:

• Prescribe a therapeutic alternative — a different drug in the same class
• Adjust your dosage or formulation (e.g., switch from capsule to tablet)
• Provide a bridging prescription for a short-term substitute
• Monitor you more closely if treatment is interrupted

Step 4: Check Multiple Pharmacies

Supply may be available at one pharmacy but not another. TransparentMedz can help you identify pharmacies in your area so you can call ahead and check availability.

Step 5: Report the Shortage

If you experience a shortage that is not listed on Drug Shortages Canada, report it to:

• Your pharmacist (who can escalate to the wholesaler)
• Health Canada through their drug shortage reporting page
• Your provincial pharmacy regulator

Tips for Managing Ongoing Shortage Risks

Refill early — do not wait until you are completely out. Most provinces allow refills when you have 7-10 days of supply remaining

Keep a medication list — know the exact drug name, strength, and DIN so you or your pharmacist can quickly identify alternatives

Ask about 90-day supplies — when your drug is available, filling a larger quantity provides a buffer

Stay informed — check drugshortagescanada.ca periodically, especially if you take medications in commonly affected categories

Build a relationship with your pharmacist — they can proactively notify you of upcoming shortages

What Canada Is Doing About Shortages

The federal government has taken steps to reduce shortages:

• Mandatory shortage reporting by manufacturers (since 2017)
• Multi-source drug strategies — encouraging multiple manufacturers to produce the same drug
• Emergency import provisions — allowing temporary import of drugs from other countries during shortages
• Domestic manufacturing incentives — investments in Canadian drug manufacturing capacity

Do Not Skip Your Medications

Drug shortages are a systemic problem, but they are manageable with the right approach. Work with your pharmacist and doctor, explore alternatives, and use tools like TransparentMedz to check availability across multiple pharmacies. The worst thing you can do is simply stop taking your medication without medical guidance.