'They told me, 'You can't be without it'': Heart patients worry about nitro shortages
A long-standing and effective treatment for chest pains caused by heart disease is in short supply in Canada right now, and patients are deeply concerned.
"Most definitely," said Lois Hutt from her home in Chester Basin, N.S.
The 69-year-old retired office manager survived a heart attack in February of 2020, and she's relied on a nitroglycerin spray since.
"I had an EKG the other week, and they told me, ‘You can't be without it,’" she told CTV News on the phone.
But it's not just the spray that's in short supply.
According to Health Canada, supplies of nitroglycerine tablets are also difficult to access at the moment.
An unnamed shortage of materials is said to be behind the issue.
"Canada is experiencing a shortage of nitroglycerin 0.4 MG/ACT sprays due to supply issues with the raw materials used to make the sprays as well as an increase in demand," said a news release from the agency.
The initial shortage of sprays lead to a heavier demand for tablets.
"Together with its partners, Health Canada is looking at ways to conserve existing supply, expedite resupplies to hospitals and pharmacies, and access foreign-authorized supply or alternatives, where possible," said Health Canada.
In the meantime, the agency is urging patients to help stretch the existing supply by:
- only obtaining what they need from their pharmacy
- keep expired product;
- check the chart below to confirm which product(s) can be used beyond their original (printed) expiry date
Nitroglycerine sprays are currently in short supply in Canada. (Courtesy:Health Canada)
The ongoing situation is worrisome to Lois Hutt.
"It's one of the first line of defense for heart disease," she told CTV.
"I can only comment for myself on how terrified I am, being a person with heart disease."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Gunman in Toronto shooting was not evil, but 'broken' by fraud dispute: wife
The wife of the gunman in Monday's double murder-suicide in North York says she doesn't consider her husband an evil person, but one who was 'broken' by a lengthy fraud dispute that saw their family savings drained.
Feels like 40: Heat wave sticking around in Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes
A heat wave that's washed over eastern Canada is sticking around for a little while still.
Why olive oil is so expensive right now, and the impact it's having on restaurants
Canadian restaurants that rely on what is being called 'liquid gold' as the backbone of their menu are being forced to eat a massive extra cost during a worldwide olive oil shortage.
Ont. mother loses $6K during Facebook marketplace transaction
An Ontario woman is sharing her story after she lost $6,000 by clicking a fraudulent link disguised to look like an e-transfer during a Facebook Marketplace transaction.
Russia obliterates Ukraine's front-line towns faster with hacked bombs and expanded air base network
Russia has accelerated its destruction of Ukraine's front-line cities in 2024 to a scale previously unseen in the war using the glide bombs and an expanding network of airstrips, according to an Associated Press analysis of drone footage, satellite imagery, Ukrainian documents and Russian photos.
Police look to identify 'nudist runner of the woods' caught on camera in western Quebec
The MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais police say the owner of a Val-des-Mont business discovered security camera footage of someone running naked across his property on June 8 around 1:30 a.m.
Can a marriage survive a gender transition? Yes, and even thrive. How these couples make it work
A partner's gender transition does not necessarily mean a death sentence for a marriage. Data is scant, but couples and therapists say that in many cases, a relationship grows and flourishes under the light of new honesty.
Has your car been stolen after a visit to a mechanic?
There may be connections between vehicle thefts and recent visits made to body shops in Canada, according to some victims. Have you been a victim of car theft? What were the circumstances? CTVNews.ca wants to hear from you.
Marge Simpson's likeness found in ancient Egyptian coffin. What does this discovery mean?
Coffin lids during the New Kingdom era are known for their intricate designs, but this particular cover was remarkable for another reason from the perspective of social media users and fans of the longtime Fox animated sitcom 'The Simpsons.'