Over-the-counter medications are increasing in demand as people are contracting respiratory viruses at higher rates. As of Nov. 30, the Department of Health and Human Services recorded 19,593 new flu hospitalizations — up from 11,378 the last reported week — in the U.S. and 3,661 of those here in California. That increased number of illnesses is leading people to seek relief.Bruce Uch, a pharmacist at Good Neighbor Pharmacy in Yuba City, said that demand usually increases in November and December due to the flu season and weather changes. That brings customers to the pharmacy to seek out medication like Benadryl, Claritin, Claritin D and nasal sprays. Other painkillers hard to come by recently are children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Mario’s Pharmacy, located at 1215 Plumas St., is also struggling with supply shortages as its suppliers are overseas. “What we’re doing is just reaching out to our suppliers and seeing how backed up they are, so as soon as we can get the stuff that we can, we order from different places,” owner Mario Mendoza said.Roger Marionneaux is one of many on the consumer end struggling with supply issues. He said he searched for hours at three different places looking for a decongestant. “I went to two pharmacies today and the shelves are completely empty. I went to the local supermarket earlier and there’s nothing there. It’s pretty bad when you really need it and there’s nothing there,” said Marionneaux, who had to take one of the very few options he found at his third stop. “The medicine I got was a lot more expensive because I guess the demand. For a small bottle, it was $18.”But that’s not the only thing that’s up in demand. Uch says that they’ve recently seen an increase in people going in to get their flu and COVID-19 shots as well.
Over-the-counter medications are increasing in demand as people are contracting respiratory viruses at higher rates.
As of Nov. 30, the Department of Health and Human Services recorded 19,593 new flu hospitalizations — up from 11,378 the last reported week — in the U.S. and 3,661 of those here in California. That increased number of illnesses is leading people to seek relief.
Bruce Uch, a pharmacist at Good Neighbor Pharmacy in Yuba City, said that demand usually increases in November and December due to the flu season and weather changes. That brings customers to the pharmacy to seek out medication like Benadryl, Claritin, Claritin D and nasal sprays. Other painkillers hard to come by recently are children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Mario’s Pharmacy, located at 1215 Plumas St., is also struggling with supply shortages as its suppliers are overseas.
“What we’re doing is just reaching out to our suppliers and seeing how backed up they are, so as soon as we can get the stuff that we can, we order from different places,” owner Mario Mendoza said.
Roger Marionneaux is one of many on the consumer end struggling with supply issues. He said he searched for hours at three different places looking for a decongestant.
“I went to two pharmacies today and the shelves are completely empty. I went to the local supermarket earlier and there’s nothing there. It’s pretty bad when you really need it and there’s nothing there,” said Marionneaux, who had to take one of the very few options he found at his third stop. “The medicine I got was a lot more expensive because I guess the demand. For a small bottle, it was $18.”
But that’s not the only thing that’s up in demand. Uch says that they’ve recently seen an increase in people going in to get their flu and COVID-19 shots as well.