Drug Shortages

Nationwide drug shortages are making life more painful for many Americans.

"The problems in the last few months with drug shortages have been more than I've ever seen in my entire career," Ms. Silverman said, describing "a ripple effect."

Current drug shortages include two popular cardiac drugs, Toprol XL and Indur, causing cardiologists and heart patients to scramble in recent months to find alternatives.

For doctors, the oxycodone shortage requires repeat visits from patients to establish new drug regimens that will keep their pain in check.

Dr. Doris Cope, a specialist in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pain Program, agreed that an oxycodone shortage exists and warned that it could get worse.

The shortage of any major drug forces patients to go back to their doctors for new medications, which might or might not work as well.