Medication Exchange and Sharing Network Program (MESNP) initiative to cope with drug shortages in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

Figures & data

Table 1 Frequently requested medications involved in drug shortages or overstock requests

Example of top 10 medications involved with drug shortage requests	Example of top 10 medications involved with drug overstocking/low demand requests
Analgesic, non-opioid, fentanyl injection, rectal diazepam	Everolimus, tacrolimus
Antimicrobial (abelcet, vancomycin, meropenem, metronidazole, clindamycin injection, cefuroxime, cefotaxime), pyrimethamine, antiretroviral: ritonavir 100 mg	Antimicrobial (cefuroxime injection, erythromycin syrup, erythromycin eye ointment, flucloxacillin oral suspension, amikacin, moxifloxacin, teicoplanin), antiretroviral: efavirenz
Corticosteroids (prednisolone)	Fluticasone inhaler 250 mcg, budesonide nasal spray, citrizine syrup
Magnesium sulfate injection, sodium bicarbonate	Bumetanide, furosemide oral
Recombinant factor viii, fibrinogen, protein c concentrate	Recombinant factor viia, alteplase 50 mg injection
Clopidogrel	Chloralhydrate solution
Furosemide injection	Ethionamide oral
Iron products	Phenytoin 100 mg tablet
Chemotherapy: clofarabine, cladribine, azacitadine, irinotecan, fludarabine, methotrexate, asparaginase products	Chemotherapy: cytarabine, ifosphamide, doxorubicin, ibrutinib
Epinephrine intramuscular and norepinephrine injection	Terbinafine