Hey #trans #Canada, looks like we're completely SOL for #Delatestryl for now and perhaps … a lot longer than now.
The manufacturer is #Hikma Canada, and this medication currently has a "long hold" on it with NO announced (estimated or actual) date of resuming production.
I have some thoughts and they probably relate to anyone hereabouts who uses #Rx #medications, so consider reading along:
1/x
Specific to #Delatestryl (an injectable form of #Rx #testosterone ), this has been the sixth shortage/hold (IIRC) since the #covid19 #pandemic began.
Both #cis and #trans people use this medication, and some alternate formulations exist, but they are not suitable for all patients.
2/x
Back when Abbott labs manufactured it, at least one shortage eventually hit the news -- NOT re Delatestryl, but due to a Canada-wide shortage in #injectables required for surgical procedures.
ANY #surgical #procedures.
3/x
I know just about nothing about prescription manufacturing, but having weathered the occasional lack of Delatestryl in the past, I usually find a way to manage.
Apologies now for perhaps seeming unduely paranoid, but when discussion options with my #pharmacy today, the pharmacist said they only focus on the #clinical, not the #political.
4/x
They said that in response to my query about the manufacturer: is my #Rx actually made in #Canada or the #USA?
Because if the latter, then given the literal current condition of official USA federal websites, data and knowledge repositories, etc rapidly removing any reference to #trans people (among other #BannedWords), I am concerned the medication could be discontinued entirely.
5/x
To be clear, I affirmed that yes, #pharmacies should be focused on the #clinical not the #political, but I also pointed out that if political decisions result in shortages or removals of #medications, then no one will be providing clinical support to #patients, because necessary treatments won't exist.
6/x
I was basically told I probably shouldn't worry, as #Hikma is Canadian.
Except, once I had a few minutes to check, it isn't.
Oh sure, there's a Canadian company. It has a handful of employees whose mission is to market the many #pharmaceuticals manufactured by Hikma … in the #USA.
Which is most definitely not the same as a Canadian company/subsidiary manufacturing and distributing medications IN Canada.
7/x
Now I have ABSOLUTELY NOT had the energy to stay abreast of everything going on with our neighbours to the south, but I seem to recall that they just appointed a guy who doesn't believe in vaccinations or #medications for many conditions as the top health official.
And regardless of what rules and processes were once in place (for ANY department), we hear daily reports of the very same being completely ignored by those in charge.
8/x
Likewise I am not up on every detail of changes made since the striking of #RoeVsWade, but IIRC several #American states have made the #prescribing or #dispensing of #medications known to be used for medical abortion illegal, even if the specific purpose for a specific patient is for another reason unconnected to abortion.
(Reminder: yes, many Rx can and are used for many different conditions, not just the thing they're most famous for)
9/x
Soooooo … I'm fretting that as we do not have a #Canadian manufacturer for Delatestyrl and the current #manufacturer in the #USA has placed the medication on long hold -- paired with the sudden and sweeping changes there that we see reported daily -- many Canadians may lose access to SEVERAL medications used to treat various conditions.
10/x
I really hope I'm wrong. Really really REALLY hope I'm wrong. 😱
But for those of us reliant on #USA-manufactured medications (for whatever condition or purpose), we might want to start checking in with our pharmacies and even #HealthCanada regarding ensuring ongoing access to safe and effective #prescriptions.
Happy to hear further thoughts on this matter.
11/fin
Yeah, that's fortunate. 🙂
As I take a lot of Rx for many complex conditions I absolutely *never* mess around with unknown substances. Literally never tried anything with CBD until it was legalised and my pharmacist could do proper checks for any known adverse reactions.
Androgel is an option but it doesn't absorb well and I definitely don't want to be giving secondary transfer to pets or people. 😬
@likelyjanlukas Anything I'm able to dig up on the Internet says Hikma is saying demand for the "drug" has increased. The shortage was first reported back on Feb 4th or 5th or so. Most recent update on this that I found was Feb 5th. The thing says estimated time of end of shortage is early March, like, 5th or so. But of course we can't know if that's accurate.
The shortage of Delatestryl I'm remembering was in 2021 and I think it lasted a few months, I don't recall what the stuff I found online said but I do remember being more than one vial of the stuff. I don't recall if one vial lasted me three months or what. If this goes on much longer I think doctors will recommend at least temporarily switching to cypionate, in 2021 that was recommended and they were not experiencing a shortage. But AFAIK their concentration of testosterone is different, so the amount drawn up to get the same dose is different.
While I don't appear to be allergic to cipionate (sp?) itself, taking it definitely turns my actual allergies up to 11, so I really don't want to use it if I can avoid it. 😬
There have definitely been more than one shortage over the past five years: at least one per year.
And then when the new manufacturer took over making the generic, AISH wouldn't cover it at first. 🙄
Likely Jan Lukas
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