Current Antibiotic Shortages
A snapshot of antibiotics with reported US supply issues — refreshed periodically, not live.
| Antibiotic | Product / form | Status date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacitracin | Bacitracin Ophthalmic Ointment | 2026-06-01 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Bacitracin Polymyxin B | Bacitracin Ophthalmic Ointment | 2026-06-01 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Bicillin C R | Penicillin G Benzathine Injection | 2026-08-12 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Bicillin L A | Penicillin G Benzathine Injection | 2026-08-12 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Cefotaxime | Cefotaxime Sodium Powder, for Solution | 2026-06-15 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Clindamycin | Clindamycin Phosphate Injection | 2026-08-18 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Clindamycin Phos | Clindamycin Phosphate Injection | 2026-08-18 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Metronidazole | Metronidazole Injection | 2026-08-18 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Metronidazole Benzoate | Metronidazole Injection | 2026-08-18 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
| Penicillin G | Penicillin G Benzathine Injection | 2026-08-12 | openFDA live API (api.fda.gov/drug/shortages) |
This is a point-in-time snapshot from 2026-08-21, not a live feed — see methodology for our refresh process. For the current, authoritative list, check the FDA Drug Shortages database directly.
The FDA maintains the authoritative, continuously updated drug shortage database — the table above is a snapshot we pull periodically, not a live feed. Shortages can resolve (or new ones can appear) faster than any static page can track, so if availability is urgent for you, calling ahead to your pharmacy or checking the FDA database directly is more reliable than any snapshot, including this one.
Why antibiotic shortages happen is usually a mix of manufacturing concentration (often just one or two manufacturers make a given generic injectable), raw material supply issues, and demand spikes (a bad flu or strep season can spike demand for a specific antibiotic faster than manufacturers can respond) — it's rarely about the drug itself being discontinued for safety reasons.
If your prescribed antibiotic is listed here, that doesn't necessarily mean your specific pharmacy is out — shortages are often regional or intermittent. Your pharmacist can usually tell you within a phone call whether they have it, and suggest a therapeutically appropriate alternative if not.