Antidepressant shortage could affect 12,000 people in Sask.
An ongoing national drug shortage of an antidepressant could be affecting about 12,000 people in Saskatchewan, according to the Ministry of Health.
The brand name of the drug is Wellbutrin, but its generic name is buproprion. A website for tracking drug shortages across Canada shows higher demand and shipping delays from vendors over the past few months as causes for the shortage.
Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reiter said drug shortages, in general, are far too common, but this one raises a particular concern.
“Usually what happens is physicians are able to prescribe something very, very similar so they don’t cause that big of an issue,” Reiter said. “I’m told in this case though that there isn’t really a readily available drug that’s similar.”