Current Drug Shortages: Which Medications Are Scarce Today in 2026

Right now, getting the right medication isn’t just about having a prescription-it’s about whether that drug is even in stock. As of February 2026, more than 260 drugs are still in short supply across the United States, and for many patients, this isn’t a temporary inconvenience. It’s a life-threatening delay. The problem isn’t new, but it’s getting worse in some areas and showing no sign of slowing down. Hospitals, pharmacies, and doctors are scrambling to keep up, while patients are left wondering if their treatment will be interrupted. Here’s what’s actually running out, why it’s happening, and what’s being done about it.

What Drugs Are in Short Supply Right Now?

The most critical shortages aren’t random. They’re concentrated in drugs that are essential for survival, especially those used in emergency care, cancer treatment, and chronic disease management. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the top categories in shortage include:

• IV fluids - especially 5% Dextrose and 50% Dextrose injections. These are used for hydration, delivering medications, and managing blood sugar. The 5% Dextrose shortage started in February 2022 and isn’t expected to end until August 2025. The 50% Dextrose shortage began in December 2021 and won’t be resolved until September 2025.
• Chemotherapy drugs - cisplatin, carboplatin, and doxorubicin are among the hardest hit. Cisplatin, a key drug for testicular and ovarian cancers, has been in shortage since 2022 after an FDA inspection halted production at a major Indian manufacturing facility. Hospitals have had to ration it, prioritizing patients with the highest chance of survival.
• Antibiotics - including vancomycin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and meropenem. These are critical for treating severe infections in ICUs. Shortages have forced doctors to use older, less effective, or more toxic alternatives.
• ADHD medications - methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and amphetamine-based drugs (Adderall) are still in short supply due to a 35% annual spike in demand since 2020. Many patients report waiting weeks for fills or being switched to less effective generics.
• GLP-1 weight loss drugs - semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) are now in shortage due to overwhelming demand. Even patients using them for diabetes are being affected as manufacturers prioritize weight loss prescriptions.
• Hormonal agents - insulin, levothyroxine, and estrogen/progesterone formulations are seeing supply gaps. Insulin shortages, though less frequent than in past years, still occur in rural areas where distribution is weaker.

These aren’t obscure drugs. They’re the backbone of modern medical care. If you’re on any of these, you’re not alone-and you’re not imagining the difficulty in getting your meds.

Why Are These Shortages Happening?

It’s not one problem. It’s a chain of failures.

First, manufacturing is overseas. About 80% of the active ingredients in U.S. drugs come from just two countries: India and China. India supplies nearly half of all active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), while China handles about a quarter. When a single facility in India fails an FDA inspection-like the one that made 50% of the U.S. supply of cisplatin-it doesn’t just delay production. It creates a nationwide blackout.

Second, profit margins are razor-thin. Generic drugs make up 90% of prescriptions but only 20% of pharmaceutical revenue. Manufacturers make just 5-8% profit on these drugs, compared to 30-40% on brand-name drugs. Why would a company invest in building more capacity for a drug that pays so little? The answer: they won’t. So when demand spikes-like with GLP-1 drugs or ADHD meds-there’s no backup.

Third, regulatory delays. The FDA can’t force a company to make more of a drug. They can inspect, warn, and delay approval, but they can’t mandate production. In 2025, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf admitted the agency prevents about 200 potential shortages each year-but only because manufacturers voluntarily share early warnings. Many still don’t.

And fourth, supply chains are brittle. A shipping delay, a labor strike, or a geopolitical tension in the Red Sea can ripple through the entire system. A single container of API stuck in transit can mean a hospital runs out of saline for a week.

How Are Hospitals and Pharmacies Coping?

They’re making do-with creativity, risk, and exhaustion.

Hospital pharmacists now spend over 10 hours a week just tracking shortages. In 2024, 67% of pharmacists reported medication errors directly linked to substitutions during shortages. One pharmacist in Ohio told a Reddit thread how they had to ration cisplatin: patients with testicular cancer got it first. Those with ovarian or lung cancer? They waited-or got a less effective alternative.

Doctors are switching to alternatives. A 2024 AMA survey found 43% of physicians had to use a less effective drug because the preferred one wasn’t available. Some are using oral rehydration instead of IV fluids. Others are combining drugs or adjusting doses-sometimes without full clinical evidence.

Pharmacies are calling every supplier, every day. In 47 states, pharmacists can substitute a therapeutically equivalent drug-but only 19 states let them do it without calling the doctor first. That means delays. That means patients waiting hours or days.

And yet, only 28% of hospitals have a 30-day strategic stockpile of critical drugs. Why? Because building one costs tens of thousands of dollars-and insurance doesn’t cover it.

What’s Being Done to Fix This?

There are efforts-but they’re slow, scattered, and underfunded.

The FDA launched a new public portal in January 2025 where providers can report shortages not yet on the official list. In three months, it received 1,247 reports-87% led to FDA action. That’s progress. But it’s reactive, not preventive.

Some states are stepping up. New York is building an online database to show which pharmacies have which shortage drugs in stock. Hawaii now allows Medicaid to cover foreign-approved versions of drugs during shortages-a move that could save lives when U.S. supplies vanish.

Legislation is being pushed. The Drug Shortage Prevention Act requires manufacturers to report production issues earlier. The End Drug Shortages Act would define what counts as a “demand surge” so the FDA can act faster. But neither has passed Congress.

The most urgent fix? Financial incentives. The U.S. Pharmacopeia says we need to pay manufacturers to make critical drugs here, not overseas. Domestic production would cut supply chain risks. But right now, it’s cheaper to ship a vial from India than to build a factory in Ohio.

What This Means for You

If you’re taking a drug that’s in shortage, here’s what you can do:

• Check the ASHP Drug Shortages Database-it’s updated weekly and lists which drugs are out, why, and when they’re expected back.
• Call your pharmacy ahead. Don’t assume your prescription is ready. Ask if they have it-or if they can get it from another supplier.
• Ask your doctor about alternatives. Not all substitutes are equal, but some are safe and effective. Don’t refuse a substitution just because it’s not your usual brand.
• Don’t delay refills. Many shortages are temporary. Getting your refill early can help you avoid a gap.
• Report a shortage. If your pharmacy says they can’t get a drug, tell your doctor. They can report it to the FDA portal. Every report helps.

This isn’t a problem that will fix itself. It’s a systemic failure in how we make and distribute life-saving medicines. Until we invest in domestic manufacturing, require transparency from drugmakers, and build real stockpiles, shortages will keep happening. And every time they do, someone’s treatment gets delayed. Someone’s health gets worse. Someone risks dying because a vial never arrived.