<p>Since we are of the age that may be getting steroid shots for pain, I wanted people to hear about this.
Even though I try to avoid the dr, I had injectable steroids three times in the past year, in my shoulder & knee for pain, & intravenously when I got into a hornets nest! I figured others out there have done the same.</p>
<p>However, all people who have become ill did so within about a month & half after their injections. 170 ill, 14 people have died.</p>
<p>^It has been in news for awhile. Another reason to avoid doc’s office. I never feel comfy there, I feel like I am absorbing some kind of deseases while there. Hospitals are even worse. I believe this is one of my phobias. Docs do not understand though that it requires a great courage from some of us to visit them. let alone to have blood tests or any skin puncturing and any other touching.</p>
<p>This story is alarming on its own but it also makes me wonder if there are other compounded shots that have or have had or periodically have problems (cough autism for example cough).</p>
<p>It was only pulled at the end of Sept., so it hasn’t been that long.
When I heard about it, I just heard " meningitis" and not " steroid", so I didn’t pay much attention.
But they’ve been increasing the numbers who have been exposed & are ill, so there is more coverage.
[Ohio</a> Now Has Three Cases of Meningitis from Steroid Shots | Cleveland Leader](<a href=“http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/19069]Ohio”>http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/19069)</p>
<p>It is appaling that a rule that was created to keep small pharmacies in business and allow them to provide custom, more pallatable versions of a medicine (e.g., chicken-, not tuna-flavored antibiotic solution for my cat who does not eat tuna) created a loophole for drug makers who avoid the extra costs of compliance with the FDA rules by packaging their goods at facilities disguised as “compounding pharmacies”. You should have seen how angry Dr. Gupta sounded on CNN the other day!
This link explains pretty well the issues with “compounding pharmacies”:</p>
<p>From the article above: “A 1997 law extending the FDA’s authority over compounding pharmacies was largely struck down by a 2002 Supreme Court decision.” Anyone know anything more about that case? I’m intrigued.</p>
<p>Compounding pharmacies provide products in forms not otherwise available. For some, it would be devastating if government regulates or closes them. Big pharmaceutical companies will not find it lucrative to supply these items.</p>
<p>When a company is manufacturing a commonly used treatment like a steroid shot & distributing thousands of doses to all 50 states, how is that a " special order"? oh wait- it’s not.</p>
<p>I had my last steroid injection about a month ago, so I am going to be paying attention.
( oh, yay, it says they haven’t shipped any to Oregon or Washington) whew</p>
<p>Compounding pharmacies, like most things in pharmacy, are state regulated. With regards to compounding, as long as there isn’t a commercially available product, you can theoretically make it.<br>
Federal law, through the FDA, does regulate how much a pharmacy can compound without a prescription order. If you are compounding without a rx and it is more than 5% of total sales, you have to register as a drug manufacturer. However, it appears MA has a law banning this practice.<br>
The Supreme Court case in 2002, Thomson vs Western States Medical Supply, had more to do with free speech than anything else. Also, the practicality of requiring to treat each individual compounded drug like a new drug that has to go through NDA cannot be done.<br>
Sterile compounding is a different creature though. It is regulated through USP chapter 797.</p>
<p>Nova10, its my impression that injectable prednisone is widely used for many applications.
Are you saying that it is not commercially available outside of a compounding pharmacy?</p>
<p>EK,
I too have been getting shots on a regular basis this past year, after car accident. When I saw the spinal doctor the other day, he noted I was one of the few patients that had not called the office. This doc doesn’t use compounded solution, so no problem. I figured any reputable office would be calling me if there was any possibility.</p>
<p>The situation is frightening. It reminds me of the transfusions that were tainted, many years ago.</p>
<p>Yes, this is a scary story. As noted, this pharmacy was deficient in a number of matters. That said, to say that there should not be any compounding pharmacies goes too far. There are some types of medication that are beneficial that are made up to a specific patient’s requirements.</p>
<p>This has definitely left us on edge. My dad’s been getting steroid shots for quite some time. We’ve also seen my dad fight (and beat) meningitis twice (I was very young- don’t remember whether it was bacterial or what… I would guess fungal as he wasn’t contagious… or at least we didn’t get it). It’s not something I wanted to go through again. Luckily he seems to be fine and didn’t get whatever shots they were (I don’t know specifics). </p>
<p>It’s a scary story overall, especially for those of us who rely on pharmacies to, you know, not screw up =/</p>
<p>Compounding pharmacies provide products in forms not otherwise available. For some, it would be devastating if government regulates or closes them. Big pharmaceutical companies will not find it lucrative to supply these items. >>>>>>></p>
<p>I am a hospital pharmacist. Years ago we ordered hyaluronidase perservative free from NEC on a case by case basis. We actually faxed the doctor’s prescription up to them ahead of time for the planned procedure. I haven’t really gleaned from what I’ve read if this is the case here or if they were actually manufacuturing…meaning compounding large batches at a time. That has always been a no-no with compounding pharmacies because then they are manufacturing.</p>
oh wait- it’s not.</p>