A recall of a drug used to treat critically ill patients has prompted some Canadian health authorities to begin rationing it for only the most serious cases.
Sodium bicarbonate is used to combat buildup of acid in the blood, in open heart surgery, as an antidote to certain poisons, in cases of organ failure, and in some types of cancer chemotherapy.
The company announced it was recalling two lots of vials of the drug due to the potential for microbial contamination, reducing the Alberta supply to just six to seven days.
The global supply of the vials has been tight since late May due to manufacturing delays.
Health Canada says it is working closely with the company, the provinces and territories as well as other partners and stakeholders to reduce the impact of the shortage on Canadian patients.
There are two injectable sodium bicarbonate drugs authorized in Canada, both supplied by Pfizer vial format and pre-filled syringes. The recall does not affect the pre-filled syringe format. Just a thought.
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