Academy advocates on lidocaine shortage, offers resources for physicians
Moving the needle
By Victoria Houghton, Managing Editor, December 1, 2022
DermWorld breaks down the latest highlights of AADA advocacy activities at the federal and state legislative and regulatory level.
The Academy knows how severely the current lidocaine and lidocaine with epinephrine shortage is affecting your patients and practices.
We are actively working to identify the root causes of the shortage and develop solutions to mitigate future supply issues.
In June, AADA Compounding Workgroup Chair Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, and AADA Past President George Hruza, MD, MBA, FAAD, representing the ASDSA, participated in an FDA compounding workgroup listening session. They took the opportunity to clearly outline the consequences for patients of the escalating problem with the shortage of generic injectable medications.
In August, the AADA sent a joint letter with the ACMS, ASDSA, and ASMS to the FDA expressing our concern about the critical national shortage of lidocaine with epinephrine, lidocaine, and other local anesthetics. The societies urged the FDA to take immediate action by adding lidocaine and lidocaine with epinephrine to the “List of Extended Use Dates to Assist with Drug Shortages.”
In October, the AADA also formed a Drug Shortage Workgroup to identify the root causes of the shortage and strategize on advocacy efforts to mitigate the ongoing problem.
On the legislative front, the AADA has supported H.R. 3662, the Patient Access to Urgent-Use Pharmacy Compounding Act, which would improve access to compounded drugs for in-office use and improve access to medications during drug shortages.
Read more about the AADA’s advocacy efforts on this issue.
The Academy has also developed tools and resources to help members navigate the current shortage including:
Rules and restrictions on importing lidocaine from Canada
Tips on how to avoid distributor price gouging tactics when purchasing lidocaine.
Academy guidance on using lidocaine that has passed its expiration date.
Read our lidocaine shortage FAQs
Read more about why there is a lidocaine shortage, when we can expect the shortage to be alleviated, and more.
Why is it so hard to get lidocaine and lidocaine with epinephrine for my practice right now?
There are three root causes that are directly contributing to the current lidocaine shortage.
COVID-19: Increased demand for anesthetics to help alleviate the pain of intubated COVID-19 patients depleted the existing supply of lidocaine. In addition, the supply chain shifted to prioritize manufacture and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Manufacturers: The FDA has strict quality control requirements for manufacturers, especially for anesthetics such as lidocaine where errors can prove fatal. This makes it difficult to quickly add new manufacturing capacity when a shortage occurs.
Supply chain: Many factors contribute to supply chain disruptions including increased demand, quality standards and/or problems, and shifting priorities due to such issues as the pandemic or other natural disasters. In the case of lidocaine, all these likely contributed to the current supply chain troubles.
AAD/A Impact Report
Read more about the Academy’s most recent advocacy wins in the latest Impact Report.
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