Don't panic if you're unable to have your prescription for Tamiflu filled at your favorite pharmacy, officials at an area grocery store say.
All Save Mart pharmacies in Tulare County — three in Visalia and one in Porterville — have 75-milligram, adult-strength capsules, said Michele Snider, executive director of pharmacy for Save Mart Supermarkets. Tamiflu is the medication prescribed to those sickened by influenza.
At the Visalia Medical Clinic, the six-physician pediatric department has seen an average of 250 patients a day — 40 to 50 percent with flulike symptoms, according to Rick Strid, chief executive officer.
Snider said that while there is a nationwide shortage of the liquid form of Tamiflu, which is prescribed to children, Save Mart uses the capsules to prepare it. Pharmacists follow instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in doing so, she said.
"[Liquid Tamiflu] is available," Snider said.
Problems getting Tamiflu
In contrast, Dennis Vermillion, pharmacist and owner of Town Center Pharmacy in downtown Visalia, said he has had problems getting Tamiflu from his wholesaler. He said his pharmacy is allowed to purchase a certain amount of Tamiflu based on the pharmacy's average need for the drug.
Vermillion said many people have come in with Tamiflu prescriptions to fill.
"I just dispensed the last one today," he said. "I am out until next week."
Precautionary measures
Some physicians are prescribing Tamiflu as a precautionary measure because of the H1N1 flu virus, Vermillion said.
"[They] want to err on the side of caution," Vermillion said.
Xengxue Yang, pharmacist and owner of Pill Box Pharmacy in downtown Visalia, also has seen a shortage of Tamiflu's liquid form. Demand has increased greatly in the last month, he said.
Yang has had no problem getting the capsules, however.
"We have it in stock," Yang said. "Different pharmacies use different wholesalers."
Yang said he checks every day with the wholesaler for the liquid form but hasn't been able to get it.
All Save Mart pharmacies in Tulare County — three in Visalia and one in Porterville — have 75-milligram, adult-strength capsules, said Michele Snider, executive director of pharmacy for Save Mart Supermarkets. Tamiflu is the medication prescribed to those sickened by influenza.
At the Visalia Medical Clinic, the six-physician pediatric department has seen an average of 250 patients a day — 40 to 50 percent with flulike symptoms, according to Rick Strid, chief executive officer.
Snider said that while there is a nationwide shortage of the liquid form of Tamiflu, which is prescribed to children, Save Mart uses the capsules to prepare it. Pharmacists follow instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in doing so, she said.
"[Liquid Tamiflu] is available," Snider said.
Problems getting Tamiflu
In contrast, Dennis Vermillion, pharmacist and owner of Town Center Pharmacy in downtown Visalia, said he has had problems getting Tamiflu from his wholesaler. He said his pharmacy is allowed to purchase a certain amount of Tamiflu based on the pharmacy's average need for the drug.
Vermillion said many people have come in with Tamiflu prescriptions to fill.
"I just dispensed the last one today," he said. "I am out until next week."
Precautionary measures
Some physicians are prescribing Tamiflu as a precautionary measure because of the H1N1 flu virus, Vermillion said.
"[They] want to err on the side of caution," Vermillion said.
Xengxue Yang, pharmacist and owner of Pill Box Pharmacy in downtown Visalia, also has seen a shortage of Tamiflu's liquid form. Demand has increased greatly in the last month, he said.
Yang has had no problem getting the capsules, however.
"We have it in stock," Yang said. "Different pharmacies use different wholesalers."
Yang said he checks every day with the wholesaler for the liquid form but hasn't been able to get it.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.