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While “frustrating,â€� the lack of access doesn’t necessarily need to be a major concern, said Mina Tadrous, associate professor at the University of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s faculty of pharmacy.

“An important thing to remember within that is: not all shortages lead to a total lack of drugs,â€� Tadrous told the Star. “It’s just that the amount that’s coming into the country doesn’t meet the demand.â€�

There are a variety of alternative options for patients, he added. “It’s just about navigating it in conjunction with your health-care team.” 

Here’s what you need to know.

What caused the shortage?

In a statement to the Star on Friday,  (CPA) said the shortage is a result of manufacturing issues affecting “one major supplier,� which has seen other manufacturers put under increased pressure, leading to widespread supply challenges.

The specifics of those manufacturing issues remain unclear, said Tadrous. Under Canadian law, drug manufacturers are required to report shortages in advance. However, the reasons can often be vague.

“I think it’s probably one of the combination products within these types of drugs that they’re having an issue with,â€� Tadrous said. 

How long will it last?

The CPA said it expects the shortage to persist into August.

Because of the nature of the supply chain, it can often take weeks, or even months, for the general public to feel the repercussions of a shortage, said Tadrous.

“But then it can also take weeks or months to get it back,� he said. “So I think what we anticipate is that this will probably linger for a couple more weeks, if not maybe a few months.�

Who is most affected?

“There are two groups of patients that we tend to worry about in these situations,” said Tadrous.

The first are people in acute pain — for example, those who have just had a dental or surgical procedure. In those cases, “we have other options available,â€� Tadrous said. “So for them, we can navigate it by looking at those other options, while being careful that we don’t trigger other shortages.â€�

In general guidance issued by the CPA, pharmacy staff were instructed to avoid starting acute-pain patients on acetaminophen with codeine or oxycodone. For those with common pain conditions, like back pain or headaches, non-opioid alternatives are recommended.

The second group is those with chronic pain conditions, like arthritis.

“The worry there is that we don’t want to destabilize these patients who may be comfortable taking these medications or even reliant on them,â€� he said.

For this group, the CPA advises against stopping the prescription abruptly. Instead, pharmacists are encouraged to help patients “taper slowly or switch to another opioid,� often at a lower dose to avoid the risk of overdose.

What to do if you’re affected

“I wouldn’t stress out,â€� Tadrous said. “Talk to your pharmacist. They’re specialists in helping you navigate these kinds of things.”

In its statement, the CPA reiterated that other medication options are available, but that pharmacists “need to work with each patient to find the right fit.�

“The challenge is that these alternatives are also controlled substances, so pharmacists have to involve a physician to make any changes,� it reads.

If you need a refill of prescription pain medication, make sure you contact your pharmacist or doctor with lots of time to plan ahead, said Tadrous. “Don’t wait until your refill is almost done.�

In its notice, Health Canada advised against turning to products from unlicensed or unverified sellers, which may not meet national quality and safety standards.

“Luckily, I don’t think this shortage is going to be that dire,â€� said Tadrous, of the possibility of people turning to unregulated markets.

“Again, I do think we have a lot of other options out there.�