Just found out from our pharmacist that Lasix is in short supply. Evidently a couple of the companies that made Lasix or the generic has stopped producing the med because it is not profitable. :eek: Here is the link: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/shortages/#current
Last year it was Sublimaze, Narcan, Compazine, and DT vaccine. Wonder what will be next?
We were subsituting Demadex for the Lasix, but we have used up that supply, so now we are using Bumex. Sure hope that doesn't run out!!
Oh hello Mr X..back to see us again with CHF....ah, well we don't have any diuretics, so we are going to wisk you down the hall to the dialysis suite....By the way, noticed you are O neg, we are a bit short, mind if we steal a bit??
Just kidding of course. We are also using bumex, but I don't think it is as effective.
All the IV diuretics are in short supply? Great! I think the average age on our med/surg floor is 80 and 90% of them have CHF! This could get real interesting!! NOT!
Hmmm...Narcan, dT, Compazine, IV Benadryl...now Lasix?
Judging from how often we use it in the ER for our CHFrs who come in with lungs resembling washing machines, this could become yet another healthcare goat rodeo...
Have you found that Demedex/Bumex work as well as Lasix?
I work on a cardiac floor and we have also felt the "burden" of the Lasix shortage. I had a CHFr who needed IV Lasix stat, I asked the Dr ( who was on the floor at the nurses station) if Bumex was OK due Lasix not available. Dr. ended up throwing his pen, standing up and pushing his chair across the station and loudly stating that "he is tired of not knowing what is and what not is available, and he wished WE would get our act together". Pt received Bumex...works really well...Dr given diaper and bottle and put down for his afternoon nap.
I work in Pharmacy and am amazed at all of the meds we can't get because the manuf. is out. Lasix, compazine, fentanyl, polymixin, very often bacitracin, kanamycin, decadron, benadryl, some of the morphines and demerols and the list goes on.
It gets pretty frustrating for the nurses and pharmacy! It is interesting that some of the new expensive meds are available but the cheaper ones aren't
:eek: Here is the link: 
RNforLongTime
1,577 Posts
Cathy Wilson,
Bumex is NOT a potassium sparing diuretic. It is a loop diuretic same as Lasix. Just wanted to clarify that!