Medication Shortages

What do I do if my medication is out of stock?

During periods of limited availability, prescriptions can continue to be filled at the pharmacy, but with potential delays. If someone experiences difficulty filling their prescriptions, they generally have the following options:

  1. If you believe your medication (whether a refill or a new prescription) might not be available at your regular pharmacy, call around to different pharmacies in your area to see if it is in stock. If it is not in stock, then an alternative agent may be necessary to continue your medication therapy. You can then direct your doctor’s office to send a prescription to the pharmacy that has an alternative medication available.
  2. Plan ahead for refills by contacting their pharmacy about 1 week before the refill is needed. Due to increased shortages, it’s important to factor in some time to get a refill on any medication you use.
  3. If you continue experiencing difficulty obtaining your medication, you can contact your healthcare provider who can assist with your treatment plan, and determine other medications or therapies that could be alternative options for treatment during the medication supply shortage.
  4. Check the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists website or the FDA website to see if your medication has a known shortage and see whether there is a timeline on when it might be available again. You can also check to see what similar medications might be available.
  5. If you can’t find the generic version of your medication and are unable to get the price on the brand-name drug lowered, check for coupons. Many online pharmacies allow you to input the name of the medication and check the price you would pay using their coupon at different pharmacies.
  6. For brand-name drugs, check the manufacturer’s websites. They often have co-pay assistance programs that can dramatically lower the cost of your prescription if you qualify (you will still have to find the medication though).

Some pharmacies do not proactively stock products like Trulicity, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy, Ozempic and Saxenda. In those cases, the patient can ask the pharmacy to order your specific medication, and it will typically arrive in 1-2 days.

If you would like to learn more, you can go to https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages?loginreturnUrl=SSOCheckOnly and watch their video about drug shortages.

Insulin CGM and Pump Information

Dexcom CGM

Library of videos: https://www.dexcom.com/training-videos

Uploading receiver to Clarity at home: https://www.dexcom.com/training-videos/using-dexcom-clarity-on-your-computer

G6 app set up and getting started: https://www.dexcom.com/training-videos/getting-started-g6-app

– also, see attachments (‘CARELINK’ resource: blue adapter (USB) is needed & it’s shipped w/their pump for free

 

Libre CGM

– How it works? Create account: https://pat.libreview.io/

– Quick start guide: https://pat.libreview.io/articles/qsg/

– Additional Support/Tools/Videos: https://pat.libreview.io/support

 

Tandem Pumps

– Connect on their computers: https://tconnect.tandemdiabetes.com/GettingStarted/

-T:Connect mobile app : app will automatically upload their data to the t:connect cloud without having to plug in via USB cable. 

Link: https://www.tandemdiabetes.com/products/software-apps/tconnect-mobile

Tandem uploading instructions

 

Omnipod 5

Omnipod 5

 

Medtronic Pumps

Patients on MiniMed 770g can upload 2 ways

  1. Using the Minimed mobile app and a compatible smartphone it will upload their pump automatically to carelink once they link them
  2. If they don’t have a compatible smartphone, they can manually download their pump at home with the blue adapter

In either case you can then connect to their carelink personal account with their username/password and see data remotely. 

 

Lab Orders and Results

For Lab Orders:

  • Log into your Privia portal on a computer/laptop.
  • Please click on the ‘Task and Tools’ tab on the left
  • Under that is the ‘Health Reminders’ you will see your lab orders.

If there are no lab orders posted then please contact your provider via the messaging system and specify which lab you want to go to in order for them to send the order to that lab.

For Lab Results:

  • Log into your Privia portal on a computer/laptop.
  • Please click on the ‘My Health’ tab on the left
  • Under that is the ‘Test Results’ you will see your lab results.

You’ll be able to view your results if you’ve already discussed them at your appointment or if your provider left a note for you via the Privia portal. If you don’t see your results, they may still be pending with the lab or you need to schedule an appointment to review them with your provider.

Diabetes Sick Day Rules

  • If you get sick, your blood sugar can be hard to manage. You may not be able to eat or drink as much as usual, which can affect blood sugar levels.  Your doctor may ask you to test your blood sugar more often when you’re sick. That’s because when your body releases hormones to fight the illness, those hormones can also raise your blood sugar levels and increase how much insulin you need. This is especially important for people with type 1 diabetes since they depend on insulin to live. 
  • When your body doesn’t have enough insulin, it starts breaking down fat as fuel, which produces ketones. When too many ketones are produced too fast, they can cause diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. DKA is very serious and can cause a coma or even death.
  • If you think you may have DKA, use an over-the-counter kit to test your urine for ketones. If ketones are present, call your doctor right away. You’ll probably need to go to the hospital for treatment.
  • When you are sick even if your blood sugar is within your target range, continue taking your insulin and diabetes pills as usual.
For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/flu-sick-days.html 
 

ADA Travel Instructions

Effective February 25, 2022, CDC previously announced that it would use
enforcement discretion to not require people to wear a mask in outdoor
areas of conveyances (if such outdoor areas exist on the conveyance) or
while outdoors at transportation hubs. CDC will continue to evaluate the
requirements of its Order and determine whether additional changes may be
warranted.

While in indoor areas of conveyances or while indoors at transportation
hubs, people are not required to wear a mask under the following
circumstances:

– while eating, drinking, or taking medication for brief periods of time;
– if, on an aircraft, wearing oxygen masks is needed because of loss of
cabin pressure or other event affecting aircraft ventilation;
– when experiencing difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or
feeling winded, until able to resume normal breathing with the mask; when
vomiting until vomiting ceases; or if wearing a mask interferes with
necessary medical care such as supplemental oxygen administered via an
oxygen mask.

For more information, please visit the CDC website.

Patient Forms

Forms can be completed online through the patient portal or you can print them from our website and bring them with you to your appointment.