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Discussion

Morphine PCA Shortage

Has your hospitals experienced a shortage of MS04 PCA syringes? We use a ton of them on our medsurg floor, and we have been told that we will not be getting any in until January. I can't imagine how many times we will be running to the pyxis for hourly Morphine injections on our busy unit, and I now we will run into the problem of those drawers being empty and waiting for the pharmacy to restock. I was just wondering if your running into the same problem in other areas of the country.:(

Featured Replies

this is the first I am hearing about this, I will keep my ears open

Are your morphine syringes/bags for PCA s premade? We make up our own , we go through a lot of ampoules in a day to do so, but reorder every 24 hours and don't seem to run into trouble. Is this a possibility for you? jax

  • Author

We have prefilled syringes from the factory for Morphine and

Demerol. Demerol PCA syringes don't seem to be effected, and they have been substituting in a few cases, Dilaudid PCA's, they are made up in the pharmacy and they can go through them pretty quickly as the ratio is higher. Having the pharmacy make up the MS PCA syringes sounds like it is not an option, because they are telling us there is a Morphine shortage. Also have been seeing a shortage of certain antibiotics....just curios about other places.

There was a big note on the pyxis the other day that there is a shortage of the prefilled PCA syringes of Dilaudid. We are in CT.

Originally posted by jax

We make up our own , we go through a lot of ampoules in a day to do so, but reorder every 24 hours and don't seem to run into trouble.

Wow! I am surprised that this isn't something pharmacy would get involved in.

  • Expert

The FDA shortage site doesn't list this as a shortage.

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/shortages/default.htm

Who makes your pumps? Are they holding back because they're losing a contract with the hospital? We had that problem when we switched IV pumps and tubing. Old manufacturer suddenly no longer wanted to supply in a timely manner.

I really hope no one at your place starts using PCA Demerol that's a big bad NO NO.

Your purchasing Pharmacist needs to get on this asap. Pharmacy CAN make up PCA pumps but that would take a LOT of pharmacy hours at the rate most places use MS PCA.

  • Author

You know, you may be right about the syringes and the possibilty of new pumps. I never thought of that. That really stinks for the patients comfort and the nurse's time, though. We do see a fair amount of Demerol PCA's. mostly in gyn patients or those who might be allergic to MSO4, or aren't getting sufficient relief with it. Whatever the case, I hope it doesn't last long.

I haven't heard of a shortage of MS0-4. We use plenty of it to start PCA's in PACU. There are other options though. Fentanyl, Demerol, and Dilaudid all have their place in PCA's/pain control. We just get so used to morphine for everyone and everything. The pharmacy mixes our Dilaudid, and the rest is pre-filled 30cc syringes of drug.

Our pharmacy and our pyxis was out of PO Dilaudid the other night. Never did figure out if it was poor ordering or a national thing. Running out of PCA syringes would not be a good thing. I would look into having pharmacy mix some for you. It isn't reasonable to expect the RN to push IV Morphine every 1-2 hours to make up for the PCA. :rolleyes:

There are other places your hospital can order the morphine syringes.

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