How drug shortages can make or break a patient’s recovery [Video]

As more than 300 medicines are in short supply, including treatments for the side-effects of chemotherapy, pharmacists are sounding the alarm and spreading awarness for how these shortages can impact a patient’s recovery.

Kristin Zastoupil and her now 16-year-old son, Bryton, are on the other side of what she calls his scary battle with leukemia.

“You almost don’t feel like you’re in the room and it becomes kind of this surreal nightmare,” Zastoupil said. 

Bryton’s chemotherapy journey wasn’t always easy. He landed in intensive care and endured grueling pediatric treatments for 30 weeks. But Zastoupil says it wasn’t until the drugs Bryton needed were in short supply that she began to worry.

“It was the question of, is he gonna get what he needs? Are we even gonna be able to have the best chance at beating this?” Zastoupil said. 

Michael Gaino with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists says drug shortages, a result of both …