Shortage of Lacrisert (hydroxypropyl cellulose ophthalmic insert)

[Rebecca Petris]

I have spoken with B&L several times lately and they went from saying 4Q to saying December. At this point I'm pretty concerned about the date slippage. We've been through this before with other things. They were pretty emphatic about not discontinuing it, but these companies don't tend to give the latest information to the customer service people.

I called B&L today. They expect Lacrisert to be back in stock by the end of December, 2020.

Hello, I am new to this forum but not to Lacrisert as I've been using this drug for 30+ years with fantastic results, and what I can only describe as a life-changing Rx that saved my vision. During my usage, there have been several manufacturers and shortages, throughout the decades. Unfortunately, I suspect it is a rare drug and not properly marketed to those who could benefit.

Re the current shortage, I am keeping track of release ETA via U.S. FDA website (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov) where you can type in Lacrisert for an update. I called B&L several months ago and was told release was expected earlier than Q4, but see today (10/1/2020) and update was made that shows a release no earlier than Dec 2020. I plan to call tomorrow and speak with B&L again to clarify this.

My local pharmacies are also out of stock. I am cutting the inserts into 1/4 at this point, stretching what I have for as long as possible. Thank you, Rojzen. I plan to pursue the Canadian option sooner rather than later. As well, it is time for me, personally, to contact Senior Management at B&L to stress the importance of this drug to those of us who rely upon it for quality of life and vision. With all else happening in the world today, most organizations of its size are implementing workarounds and by now, have streamlined production to catch up with pent-up demand and shortages.

Meanwhile, phone calls/emails/etc to B&L, your eye doc, leading eye institutes, politicians, etc can only help keep this very serious problem front and center. There must be a B&L database of regular-use patients that qualify for emergency distribution of this drug and a centralized distribution facility that can replace a pharmacy until the critical shortage is passed. I will be addressing this with B&L, and other concerns I have.

Stay healthy, and thank you for sharing eye comforting alternatives that work for you during this crisis, as I'm sure it will benefit us all.

I called b&lomb about a week ago they said the lacriserts would be available around the end of this month. Who knows?!!

I’ve not cut them in half but I have figured out I can put them in in the morning and keep them in and working 2 whole days. At the end of day 2 I remove what little is left and use night time ointment. So I’m getting 2 months from 1 box. I’m worried I’ll finish my last box and they won’t be back in stock.

Do the lacriserts work if cut in half? I called the manufacturer in August and they said it was not in production due to covid. They told me it was not being discontinued and would be available in Sept 2920. I tried numerous times now in Sept calling them but received a voice mail that everyone was busy.
i also have Sjrogren’s syndrome and desperately need them for my eyes.

Hi

My wife has SS and SLE with severe sicca syndrome. She uses a lot of medications (prednisolone, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, rituximab, restasis, artificial tears, +++) but what works best for her when it comes to lubrication is Lacrisert in combination with one specific type of artifical tears. She is really dependent on Lacrisert.

Currently there is a shortage of Lacrisert in Scandinavia. I have contacted Bausch+Lomb in USA but they were not able to provide any information regarding when the product will be available again. They did however assure me that the product is not being discontinued.

In the meantime, if anyone has any Lacrisert that they are not using I would really appreciate a personal message on here. I'm interested in buying.

Thanks
Regards Morten

Please reach out to Canadian world pharmacy i just reached out to them and they do carry it. Im in the same situation like your wife and been looking for this medicine.

I was told that the manufacturing plant in France was having issues with production due to COVID 19. My plan is to cut in half. When I was a kid the doc told me to do so (in the 80s).

so stressed!

Are there any alternatives to lacrisert?

i think the key is for everyone to contact B@L and stress just how important this drug is and plead for it. I'm going to. My mother is 90 years old and if she found out she didn't have anymore that would be it.

I have severe sjogrens dry eye and parotid lymphoma. No moisture for eyes or mouth. I pay a big copay for lacrisert and it’s out of stock again!! Twice this year. Don’t know how I’ll manage work. Mucous costs my corneas without these. Drops not enough! Anyone know of any place that would have a stockpile? It’s always a special order. Ty

[Rojzen]

Please consider contacting Canada Cloud Pharmacy in Vancouver. It is a brick & mortar pharmacy that honors U.S. prescriptions and ships medications, at least to the U.S., for limited personal use. It carries only medications that are available for sale in Canada, and sources these medications only from Canadian suppliers (unlike less reputable international online pharmacies that are less discriminating in their sourcing). They have an excellent rating on Pharmacy Checker. I just checked its website, and it usually carries Lacrisert and does not indicate, on its ordering form, that Lacrisert is out of stock. I don't know whether Canada Cloud works with patients outside of North America, but if you call them or e-mail them, you will be connected with one of the superb pharmacists there, and all questions will be answered. I have been able to obtain a glaucoma medication from Canada Cloud that is no longer available in the U.S., for a family member, and in addition to sparing my family member exposure to BAK, use of this preservative-free glaucoma medication has proven to be surprisingly affordable. Many veterinarians in the U.S., btw, routinely recommend that their clients submit prescriptions to Canada Cloud and other reputable Canadian pharmacies, even for products that are available through U.S. pharmacies, and often for products that have become scarce in the U.S.

I was just told by my pharmacist that it has been discontinued.
I wonder if there is a way to get another manufacturer to make a generic non prescription version of this. I don’t need all the plastic insert gadgets they include with packaging. I just dampen my clean finger and put it in my eye. Perhaps if it were less expensive it could be more available.
Anne Geraghty, Sacramento

Rebecca, if you can get more info from B&L that would be great. Per the FDA Drug Shortage website (post dated 5/1), the earliest it will be available is December. The Lacrisert website has no information. As I (4/30 post) and the person who posted on 5/18 have found out, Customer Service is anything but that. It is irresponsible not to be able to be able to provide answers to patients when obviously some one at the company has the information.

[Rebecca Petris]

I'll try to get more from B&L tomorrow or anyone else I can find who might know. This has been a probelm for a long time