JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man said he has spent several days in debilitating pain because of a nationwide drug shortage.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported more than 100 drug shortages. Medications range from injections to tablets – treating cancers, panic disorders, chronic pain, and more.
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Wayne Files said he struggles with basic activities like walking ever since his injury from 40 years ago.
“I actually have a lower disk back injury. It happened a couple of years back on Phillips Highway. But I’ve been on meds since then,” Files said.
Files said his doctor prescribed him Oxycodone 10-325 — an opiate pain killer ―which goes by the brand name Percocet, for more than a decade.
But within the last 10 months, Files said he’s had issues getting it from his local pharmacy.
“Every month when I go to the doctor, I go to pick the strips up, it’s always on a back order, and the back order is that they don’t have it,” Files said.
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According to Drugs.com, a site that works with the FDA to provide consumers and health professionals updates about medications, File’s painkiller is one of the hundreds of medications facing a shortage.
As of now, there’s no clear indication listed as to what’s causing this shortage, which is frustrating to Files.
“I just got it on the 16th, but my doctor’s appointment was on the second of the month,” Files said. “So, from the 2nd to the 16th, that’s a long time without meds and to be in pain.”
While he is grateful he has his prescription now, he worries about going weeks without it again next month.
“Something just has to change,” Files said.