Can’t find children’s cold medicine in Lexington? Here’s what may help and what won’t
Some Lexington pharmacy locations are reporting difficulties keeping Children’s Tylenol and similar fever-reducers in stock amid a persistent shortage of medications for children across the country.
Responding to a general inquiry about the availability of Children’s Tylenol products, an employee at the Walgreens on Richmond Road said the store had only “six or seven” products in stock Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, an employee at the CVS on Todds Road said the store was sold out of Children’s Tylenol completely Wednesday afternoon, but hoped to get another shipment Thursday by 4 p.m.
In recent weeks, Walgreens and CVS have limited the amount of children’s medications customers can buy at once, according to a report last month from NBC News.
As of Wednesday, that was still the case for at least CVS, when a company spokesperson told the Herald-Leader in an email that a limit was still in place for customers.
“To ensure equitable access for all our customers, there is currently a two (2) product limit on all children’s pain relief products at all CVS Pharmacy locations and cvs.com. We’re committed to meeting our customers’ needs and are working with our suppliers to ensure continued access to these items,” Mary Gattuso, the lead director for CVS’ retail communications, wrote.
Responding to a similar query, a Walgreens representative linked to an earlier statement the company made announcing an online-only purchase limit of six per customer for over-the-counter pediatric fever-reducing products.
Up until recently, children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen had not made the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortages list, but that changed Tuesday when the FDA announced it was closely monitoring the supply and working with manufacturers to expand it.
All this comes amid an early flu season, with Kentucky experiencing some of the highest flu activity in the country in recent weeks, according to CDC data.
The most recently available flu surveillance report from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, dated Dec. 25 to 31, reported at least 37,825 confirmed flu cases during the 2022-23 flu season. There were 1,307 additional confirmed flu cases during that reporting period, which was a decrease from the 2,132 cases reported the previous week.
What can I do if I can’t find children’s cold medicines?
Dr. Carol Steltenkamp, chief medical officer at UK HealthCare, said supply issues have improved somewhat, but she is still encountering “spotty” shortages in her work with patients.
“There’s just been such an increased demand,” she said in a recent Herald-Leader interview.
Steltenkamp recommended parents look for generic alternatives if they can find them in local drug stores.
She also said parents should check with their primary care doctor or pharmacist about alternatives, and if that doesn’t work, try honey. It’s safe to give children honey as long as they’re 12 months or older, Steltenkamp added.
One thing you shouldn’t do on your own is try to give your child a modified adult dose of acetaminophen or other over-the-counter drugs. That could have detrimental effects on your child’s health, Steltenkamp said.
Dr. Chirag Patel, the chief medical officer for WellCare Kentucky, encouraged parents with sick children to seek urgent care clinics rather than bringing their children to emergency rooms, which are strained by seasonal flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 cases in addition to more conventional health emergencies.
Telehealth can also be a great option for families, Patel said.
The Mayo Clinic also recommends the following for treating a cold without medication:
Staying hydrated
Getting rest
Using a vaporizer
Drinking warm liquids
Soothing your sore throat with a saltwater gargle
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