Federal legislation could help ease the prescription drug shortage around the country, and a Hilliard woman said her own experience showed her the importance of passing the bill.
About one year ago, Sharon Brown was told that the breast cancer drug she was receiving at The James Cancer Center was in short supply.
Due to the shortage, her usual drug Taxol was going to be replaced with a different drug called Taxotere.
"Taxol was supposed to be the drug of choice. And when it came down to it, there wasn't enough," said Brown.
Sharon had a severe reaction to the new medication and ended up in the emergency room.
"It was horrible. I still have the neuropathy in my feet. It's getting better, but it's going to take awhile,? Sharon said. ?I just try not to think about it. It was horrible for two weeks.?
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is sponsoring new legislation, which recently passed in the U.S. Senate, that would allow pharmacists to repackage larger doses of medications and potentially ease the drug shortage. It would also require drug makers to report shortages to the Food and Drug Administration.
"Sometimes these shortages, we get notified the day before we're not able to get a supply. So by early notification to the FDA, they can really work to get other sources and maybe get other manufacturers to ramp up their supplies," said Ryan Forrey, Associate Director-Pharmacy and Infusion Services at OSU Wexner Medical Center.
Forrey said?they have?a list of 239 drugs that are in short supply. They must be creative in how they treat patients.
"We have two ways of dealing with it; looking at our supply and getting additional supplies in and then managing our use," explained Forrey.
Sharon Brown applauds the efforts of lawmakers to bring the drug shortage epidemic under control. She just completed her breast cancer treatments and hopes no one will live in fear of not getting treatment.
"I don't want anybody to have to go through what?I went through," said Brown.
Hear Sharon?s story and her thoughts on the bill tonight on NBC4 at 5 p.m.
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