Some N. Texans Find Liquid Tamiflu In Short Supply

[Treyfish]

Sep 11, 2009 6:02 pm US/Central
By Melissa Newton
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―

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• There is a problem at pharmacies across North Texas. They are experiencing a shortage of liquid Tamiflu and the situation may leave parents of young children, struggling to find the medication.
  
  CBS 11 News contacted more than a dozen pharmacies, from Rockwall, to Dallas, to Fort Worth and while some still had liquid Tamiflu in stock, others were completely out.
  
  At Park Place Pharmacy in Fort Worth there's an empty shelf where liquid Tamiflu should be stocked. "Manufacturers have so much they can produce, and when there is a demand with the flu going on, regular flu and potential H1N1 that there is a shortage," said pharmacist Craig Nicholson.
  
  According to Nicholson, the oral suspension version of the anti-viral isn't prescribed as often as the capsule form. 'The liquid form is for children, usually under 12, who cannot swallow the capsule," explained Nicholson.
  
  Still not having the liquid version readily available could put pharmacies and physicians in a bind. Nicholson says he still tries to help his customers. "Since we don't have the product right now we would direct them to a pharmacy that does have it."
  
  Even some major drug store locations, like CVS and Walgreen's, are on backorders from the manufacturer.
  
  And it isn't just the liquid Tamiflu that's in limited supply. Nicholson says the manufacturer is even putting allocations on the amount of capsules pharmacies can order. "We can only get so much per day or possibly so much per month. It's early in the season, so usually we wouldn't start stocking up sometime until October or November."
  
  Pharmacists say it isn't uncommon for manufacturers to put allocations on medication.
  
  So while North Texans may be seeing a shortage; states in the southeast, which have had major flu outbreaks, may not be experiencing the same problem. :tiphat:http://cbs11tv.com/local/Tamiflu.flu.H1N1.2.1178964.html