Diabetics frustrated by drug shortages

News 8 On Your Side investigates a critical drug shortage that is frustrating diabetics who need the medication. Investigator Susan Shapiro looked into the shortage and what the drug’s manufacturer had to say about it. “I need it. It’s annoying.” Bob Dohman and his wife, Cheryl, both have type 2 diabetes. The Camp Hill couple uses Trulicity to control their blood sugar. Cheryl can still get her 1.5 mg dose of the GLP-1 drug, but Bob has no luck with the 3 mg version. “Last month is when I ordered it, and it should have been here. And all of a sudden they said it was canceled. I need it. It’s annoying. I can’t believe it,” Bob Dohman said. “I’m very grateful that there is a drug like this, but it frustrates me to no end that my husband can’t get the opportunity to use it,” Cheryl Dohman said. The Dohmans get their medication from Ohio-based online pharmacy CenterWell. Even traditional pharmacies like Camp Hill Pharmacy can’t get that dose of Trulicity either. “We tried to look around and see if any competitors or anyone had it in stock. Then we tried to get our patients the medication,” pharmacist Sumita Markana said. Drug maker statement Trulicity and other diabetes drugs have been in short supply for months. The heavily advertised drugs are in high demand because many people use them to lose weight. Eli Lilly makes Trulicity, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The company said its facilities are operating 24/7, year-round, and it is building new plants. Despite these efforts, the company is experiencing limited availability of the drugs. In a statement to News 8, Eli Lilly said, “We are working with determination and urgency to help meet the growth in demand, while always ensuring that patient safety is a priority and that our quality standards are met.” ‘A tough situation to be in’ “These drugs are a game changer. You just have to have them,” said Dr. David Bradley, director of the diabetes program at Penn State Health. He said the drugs require consistency. “These drugs wear off very quickly, so even missing a dose for patients who are trying to find it is really difficult. It’s a tough situation to be in,” he said. The Dohmans don’t blame anyone for wanting to lose weight, but they say diabetics should be given priority. “If they’re not going to let him get it because there’s someone who wants to lose weight to get it, I think that’s totally absurd,” Cheryl Dohman said. Bob Dohman will now switch to Ozempic. He said he was assured that the product was similar to Trulicity and that he should be able to tolerate it without any problems.