Saline shortage during cmf chemo

Bjbj · January 2018

I am in the middle of a course of chemo of CMF, Once every 3 weeks for 8 rounds. The first three they used a typical protocol of mixing the steroid / anti nausea drug in the saline and given thru Iv before the actual chemo meds.

Then due to saline shortage because of disaster in Puerto Rico they give less saline and do not put the steroid med in the saline. Instead, they give a little saline then do a “push” meaning a syringe into the iv line.

Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone know how this affects the drugs or side effects? From online reaseachbit seems the “push” is a bit more dangerous to the veins. And does the mrs work the same?

I do not trust the circular answer my so called top dr gave me.

I also do not understand why this is not in the news ever single day as a headline.

CBK · January 2018

Yes I did experience this and the only effect I was aware of when they “pushed” the Benadryl through and I was seeing double. In other words the absorption into the body was much quicker than the traditional saline administration.

They only administered this way twice, before they went back to traditional protocol. It’s pretty incredible they haven’t come up with a solution to this problem yet. However, I know this still remains a problem because I just had surgery last week and we were discussing with anesthesiologist!

VL22 · January 2018

I thought the shortage was the actual bags, not the saline in them? This is what I was told a couple months ago

ksusan · January 2018

The bags were manufactured in Puerto Rico, and this capacity hasn't been restored.

Jennifer522 · January 2018

I too thought the storage was on the bags, not the saline itself.

My pre-meds have been pushed since I believe #3 chemo in early November. I find them harder on me. I get woozy or feel weird with them. The feeling does not last long. I have a port though, so it may be different if you do not.

I am surprised too that the bag storage has not made the news. Or other companies have not stepped up their production enough to cover the storage. With the flu epidemic, I am sure the shortage is getting worse.

Rubytoos · January 2018

Saline bags are not the only thing manufactured in PR. There has also been a lidocaine shortage and God knows what else. These things have been reported by the "real" news: NYT, NPR and NBC to name a few. There has been an issue with bags for years based upon what I read.

ksusan · January 2018

There has been coverage, but no real response (e.g., prioritizing or expediting getting the manufacturer up and running, or finding a good alternative manufacturer.)

http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2018/01/07/hos...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/health/puerto-r...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/04/health/puerto-r...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/10/hu...

https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/16/health/iv-bag-short...

http://www.newsweek.com/after-hurricane-maria-iv-b...

https://nypost.com/2018/01/10/iv-bag-shortage-has-...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-14...

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnou...