Colorado Agencies Monitoring Drug Shortage Concerns as DEA Takes Steps to Increase Production

Posted: April 7, 2020

DENVER (KDVR) – The Colorado Hospital Association and the Colorado Pharmacists Society are monitoring concerns from hospitals about the availability of drugs used to place patients on ventilators in Colorado.

“As the numbers (of COVID-19 cases) keep increasing, the concern gets higher and higher,” Emily Zadvorny, the executive director of the Colorado Pharmacists Society, said.

Sedatives and pain killers like fentanyl, hydromorphone and morphine are on the FDA shortage list, said Zadvorny. Other drugs used to help sedate and reduce pain for ventilated patients include ketamine, propofol, precedex, lorazepam and midazolam, she said.

In Colorado, “nobody has run out, per se,” said Zadvorny. “The medical and pharmacy staff (are) working together for alternatives to the standard of care. So, (we’re) looking at - can we use a different medication? Can we compound any medications? Can we use something different? But just grave concern that's there’s very limited supplies."

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