Guides
Plain-language explainers on how drug shortages work in Canada and what to do about them.
Why drug shortages happen in CanadaThe real causes behind Canadian drug shortages: fragile manufacturing chains, single-supplier ingredients, demand spikes, and why Canada is hit harder than most countries.What to do when your medication is in shortageA practical playbook for Canadians facing a drug shortage: what pharmacists can do on the spot, when you need a prescriber, and the mistakes to avoid.How to read drug shortage reports (and their estimated end dates)What Health Canada shortage statuses actually mean, what Tier 3 is, and why estimated end dates so often slip.Ozempic and GLP-1 drug supply in CanadaThe state of semaglutide and other GLP-1 supply in Canada: what happened during the shortage years, what generics changed, and what to do when your dose is out of stock.ADHD medication shortages in CanadaWhy stimulant medications like lisdexamfetamine and amphetamine salts keep going short in Canada, and what patients can realistically do, given the extra rules around controlled substances.Children's medication shortages: what parents should knowLessons from the 2022 children's medicine crisis: why pediatric formulations go short first, what substitutions are safe to ask about, and what never to improvise.When a drug is discontinued in CanadaA discontinuation is a shortage that never ends. What manufacturers are required to report, what your options are, and how programs like Special Access work.