Pain, fever medicines for children scarce on pharmacy shelves
Laura Clark often uses over-the-counter liquid Tylenol for her young kids when they have a fever.
“With my three children, we rely on it,” she says. “Actually, right now, I’m home with our middle child who picked up a bug from her younger brother, so we've used it as recently as this morning.”
But the next time Clark goes to buy it, it may be harder to find, because shelves in some Maritime pharmacies are out of stock or nearly out of many liquid pain and fever formulations for children and infants.
“What we are seeing is an increase in demand for produces that treat pain and fever for children,” says Barry Power, a pharmacist and editor-in-chief at the Canadian Pharmacists Association in Ottawa.
Power says the recent demand is due to spikes in COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses among youth.
“We're seeing spikes in RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) in children as well,” says Power. “So we're starting to see a bit of a perfect storm where there are a lot of things circulating that children are getting.”
But while Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto recently sent a letter to outpatient caregivers advising they may need to get a prescription for these medications because of the short supply, the Association says that’s not necessary.
“Talk to your pharmacist, absolutely,” says Halifax pharmacist Greg Richard. Richard says a pharmacist can help caregivers find other options for parents in need of pain and fever medication, and can give the best advice on the proper dosage of certain products for a particular child.
“Even though you may not be able to find Tylenol brand, there may be other brands on the shelves you’re just not familiar with,” he says. “Depending on the dose, a chewable may be an option. It just depends on the situation.”
The IWK Health Centre says its inpatient and emergency supplies of liquid acetaminophen and ibuprofen products is adequate.
Dr. Melanie MacInnis, the IWK’s clinical pharmacy specialist for pediatric emergency medicine, also says sometimes a child’s fever doesn’t require medication.
“Just because the thermometer may say that your child has a fever, if they are otherwise well, and behaving and playing like they normally would, there’s no need to treat.”
The Canadian Association of Pharmacists says manufacturers are still producing the drugs, so supply issues may be sporadic depending on location.
It’s also reminding consumers not to stockpile to make sure there's enough medications on the shelves for those who need it.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.