Amoxicillin shortage hitting parents
At 2 years old, Carter Williams has needed to take amoxicillin daily to curb the effects of having multiple spleens from birth, also known as polysplenia.
His mother, Cecilia Geibel, of Oakland Township, said it has been difficult for the past month to find a consistent source of the antibiotic. She said she has read about a nationwide shortage of amoxicillin, which may eventually require her and her son’s doctor to find an alternative.
“I ended up calling multiple places; I called Giant Eagle, and I ended up getting it filled there,” Geibel said. “As of today, I have to get it filled at Rite Aid, because practically no one in the area has it.”
Jon Valentino, a pharmacist at Institute Hill Pharmacy in Butler, said suppliers have been having a more difficult time getting amoxicillin, in part because of the recent high demand for it.
“Amoxicillin is pretty much nonexistent now,” Valentino said. “They just have to use different alternatives as far as antibiotics.”
As far as finding an alternative, Geibel said she has found solid versions of amoxicillin, but her son, 2, has had a hard time swallowing it. Carter needs to take 2 milliliters of amoxicillin twice a day, so Geibel is considering other antibiotics now.
