Latest news with #MinaTadrous
Toronto Star
10-08-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
As pharmacists, we must be empowered to act in the face of Canada's painkiller shortage
By Peter Zhang and Mina Tadrous, Contributors Peter Zhang is a hospital pharmacist at Southlake Regional Health Centre and PhD student at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Mina Tadrous is an associate professor and the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Real-World Evidence and Pharmaceutical Policy, as well as a co-founder of MaaTRx, a drug-shortage data-driven solutions company. Canada is facing a shortage of Tylenol with oxycodone or codeine, and it's left health professionals scrambling to fill gaps in care. Among patients who rely on these commonly prescribed pain medications for relief, there is real anxiety as to whether their needs will be met when supplies run out. Amid the increasing economic uncertainty caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, drug shortages are a growing concern. Even before all the trade turbulence began, there were a total of 3,098 drug shortages in Canada, 15 per cent more than there were in the previous year. Gaps in medication supply have now reached historic levels, and pharmacists are often health care's first line of defence. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Toronto Star
10-08-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
As pharmacists, we know one simple way to fix Canada's painkiller shortage
By Peter Zhang and Mina Tadrous, Contributors Peter Zhang is a hospital pharmacist at Southlake Regional Health Centre and PhD student at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Mina Tadrous is an associate professor and the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Real-World Evidence and Pharmaceutical Policy, as well as a co-founder of MaaTRx, a drug-shortage data-driven solutions company. Canada is facing a shortage of Tylenol with oxycodone or codeine, and it's left health professionals scrambling to fill gaps in care. Among patients who rely on these commonly prescribed pain medications for relief, there is real anxiety as to whether their needs will be met when supplies run out. Amid the increasing economic uncertainty caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, drug shortages are a growing concern. Even before all the trade turbulence began, there were a total of 3,098 drug shortages in Canada, 15 per cent more than there were in the previous year. Gaps in medication supply have now reached historic levels, and pharmacists are often health care's first line of defence.
CBC
02-08-2025
- Health
- CBC
Expert discusses potential impact of Trump's demand to slash drug prices in U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a direct warning to top pharmaceutical companies, demanding they slash drug prices. Mina Tadrous, an associate professor at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, discusses concerns and how this could impact drug prices in Canada.
29-07-2025
- Health
There's a painkiller shortage in Canada. Here's what to know
There is a shortage of some commonly-prescribed painkillers in Canada, as companies that supply them deal with manufacturing disruptions and increased demand, according to a notice (new window) published on Health Canada's website. The medications in question are acetaminophen with codeine (sometimes known as Tylenol 3) and acetaminophen with oxycodone (sometimes sold under the brand name Percocet). As a result of the shortage, Health Canada's notice said these drugs have become harder to get and may not always be available. Here's what you need to know. Manufacturing troubles cause ripple effects Health Canada's notice says the shortage of acetaminophen with codeine is linked to manufacturing disruptions reported by Teva Canada Limited, resulting in increased demand and shortages reported by Apotex Inc and Laboratoire Riva Inc, the other companies that also market the drug in Canada. Teva's manufacturing problems are also affecting its supply of acetaminophen with oxycodone, leading to an increased demand other companies can't make up for. In a statement, Teva said the problem is due to a short delay in our supply chain relating to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) shipment from our supplier. The company says it expects to be able to accelerate production of an initial supply for early August 2025 and for full supply to be restored in Canada by September. A spokesperson for Health Canada, Mark Johnson, said in a statement that the agency is working closely with manufacturers, health-care providers and provinces and territories to monitor the situation and explore options to increase access. You never want to see a shortage, period. But you definitely don't want to see it with something that's this common, said Mina Tadrous, associate professor with the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. Tadrous says these drugs are prescribed for both acute pain — following a surgery or dental procedure for example — and for chronic pain, for patients who need them on a long-term basis. He says supply-chain problems for one drug company can affect supply across Canada. We see a domino effect. One drug goes on shortage, everyone switches to another generic, he said. That trickles through. 'Don't panic,' pharmacists say While the shortage can complicate things for patients and pharmacists, the Canadian Pharmacists Association says pharmacists are used to managing drug shortages and helping patients through them. The good news is, there are alternatives available, said Sadaf Faisal, a pharmacist and senior director of professional affairs at the Canadian Pharmacists Association. Faisal said the association is in close contact with Health Canada and is monitoring the situation closely. In the meantime, her advice to patients is: Don't panic. Talk to your health-care providers, go to your pharmacist. They have resources available to them that provide the safer alternative. She also advises patients to try not to wait until they are almost out of their medications to renew prescriptions. What pharmacists are doing The association has published a clinical resource (new window) for pharmacists as they navigate the shortage. It provides guidance on suitable alternative medications, switching strategies and how to best monitor changes. Faisal says pharmacists can work with patients to fine-tune suitable alternatives according to their conditions, medications and medical histories, It's based on the situation, she said. It's not a one-size fits all approach. Tadrous says patients will still be treated and get the drugs they need, but notes drug shortages can create extra work for pharmacies and physicians. It's still kind of burdensome for an already stretched system, he said. Alison Northcott (new window) · CBC News · National Reporter Alison Northcott is a national reporter for CBC News in Montreal, covering health, business and politics. Born in Winnipeg, she is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University and has over 15 years experience in journalism.
Hamilton Spectator
28-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada is facing a shortage of common prescription painkillers. Here's who could be most affected
A nationwide shortage could see some Canadians struggling to access common prescription painkillers this summer. Last week, Health Canada issued a notice to the public that manufacturers of drugs containing acetaminophen with codeine or oxycodone, like Percocet and Tylenol-3s, are experiencing shortages. While 'frustrating,' the lack of access doesn't necessarily need to be a major concern, said Mina Tadrous, associate professor at the University of Toronto's faculty of pharmacy. 'An important thing to remember within that is: not all shortages lead to a total lack of drugs,' Tadrous told the Star. 'It's just that the amount that's coming into the country doesn't meet the demand.' There are a variety of alternative options for patients, he added. 'It's just about navigating it in conjunction with your health-care team.' Here's what you need to know. In a statement to the Star on Friday, the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPA) said the shortage is a result of manufacturing issues affecting 'one major supplier,' which has seen other manufacturers put under increased pressure, leading to widespread supply challenges. The specifics of those manufacturing issues remain unclear, said Tadrous. Under Canadian law, drug manufacturers are required to report shortages in advance. However, the reasons can often be vague. 'I think it's probably one of the combination products within these types of drugs that they're having an issue with,' Tadrous said. The CPA said it expects the shortage to persist into August. Because of the nature of the supply chain, it can often take weeks, or even months, for the general public to feel the repercussions of a shortage, said Tadrous. 'But then it can also take weeks or months to get it back,' he said. 'So I think what we anticipate is that this will probably linger for a couple more weeks, if not maybe a few months.' 'There are two groups of patients that we tend to worry about in these situations,' said Tadrous. The first are people in acute pain — for example, those who have just had a dental or surgical procedure. In those cases, 'we have other options available,' Tadrous said. 'So for them, we can navigate it by looking at those other options, while being careful that we don't trigger other shortages.' In general guidance issued by the CPA, pharmacy staff were instructed to avoid starting acute-pain patients on acetaminophen with codeine or oxycodone. For those with common pain conditions, like back pain or headaches, non-opioid alternatives are recommended. The second group is those with chronic pain conditions, like arthritis. 'The worry there is that we don't want to destabilize these patients who may be comfortable taking these medications or even reliant on them,' he said. For this group, the CPA advises against stopping the prescription abruptly. Instead, pharmacists are encouraged to help patients 'taper slowly or switch to another opioid,' often at a lower dose to avoid the risk of overdose. 'I wouldn't stress out,' Tadrous said. 'Talk to your pharmacist. They're specialists in helping you navigate these kinds of things.' In its statement, the CPA reiterated that other medication options are available, but that pharmacists 'need to work with each patient to find the right fit.' 'The challenge is that these alternatives are also controlled substances, so pharmacists have to involve a physician to make any changes,' it reads. If you need a refill of prescription pain medication, make sure you contact your pharmacist or doctor with lots of time to plan ahead, said Tadrous. 'Don't wait until your refill is almost done.' In its notice, Health Canada advised against turning to products from unlicensed or unverified sellers, which may not meet national quality and safety standards. 'Luckily, I don't think this shortage is going to be that dire,' said Tadrous, of the possibility of people turning to unregulated markets. 'Again, I do think we have a lot of other options out there.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
