Posted on 04/13/2013 12:28:46 AM PDT by LibWhacker
I'm just including a few of the replies on ask.com...
AntonioDittmann: 4 months ago
As of this writing, Maalox continues to be scarce. Some time ago, the manufacturer, Novartis, became aware of production problems at their Lincoln, NE plant. Although most of these problems seem related to pills not associated with Maalox, the plant was entirely shut down, affecting the supply of all drugs made at that plant. According to one source, the plant is under renovation and modernization, but I have not found a documented date of re-activation provided by Novartis. Other drugs affected by this shortage/recall include the cold remedy Triaminic, and the combo remedy Theraflu.
The shortage may also effect generic or store label brands of the same type as Maalox (a compound of Magnesium Chloride and Aluminum Chloride). One possible explanation is that many of these generic label brands are actually purchased overstock of the brand name or trademarked original. In other words, a store label compound that says something like, "compare to the active ingredient in Maalox," might actually be Maalox, with perhaps a small variation in texture so as not to advantage the store label product over the trademarked product.
home4sure: 1 year ago | Last edited at 9:18AM on 4/16/2012
Someone I know called Novartis (3/2012). They said that there is no recall on the product, but that they are having a shortage of liquid Maalox because they have shut down the US and Canadian plants that manufature the product, for remodeling. They said that they don't expect to start making it again until later this year. If the store ran out of stock, they will not be getting more for a few months.
TxPatriot: 1 year ago
The Maalox shortage continues, but is NOT limited to liquid forms. I have not seen ANY form of Maalox on the shelves in months, but also the drug store generics which are based on the Maalox formulations have ALSO disappeared from the shelves. This is in liquid or in TABLET form as well.
The fact that the retailers have no information, no contact with their manufacturers, and that nobody has really reported this leads me to believe the hand of government, specifically of Homeland Security MAY be involved here. They are the only agency which can order a company to do something and under pains of NATIONAL SECURITY letters under the "Patriot" Act, hold them criminally responsible for breaking that silence about the existence of the order.
Why would not the wholesaler or manufacturer want to get the word out to their customers to hang on, we're coming back shortly...don't switch to our rivals just yet. The longer this continues, the more likely that I'm correct.
seesthetruth: 7 months ago
Go the Maalox website--you have to google Maalox USA. I think the website is www.maaloxus.com. The website says some BS about insuring the integrity of the product, so they are temporarily suspending production of the product. There is something else going on. They had to pull their absolute BEST product (Maalox Total) off of the shelves because the FDA implied that people can't read and would be taking the wrong product. The government regulates what it wants to regulate. I have a feeling there is some trouble with the government and these products. But, as I said, if you go to the website you will see the explanation.
jimmy813: 5 months ago
Something fishy is going on..The B.S. about remodeling the plants and bits of strange substances being found in the product is the EXACT SAME explanation given when EXECDRIN disappeared.
I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on with Novartis- maybe not even them. The same thing has been happening with their heart worm preventative, Interceptor, for going on a year and a half. The ingredient (Milbemycin oxime) is available as usual in Australia, but it cannot be sold to US clients. There are many rumors- including patent expiration, trying to force clients to use much more (double) expensive combination drugs, etc, & FDA dragging their feet- but who knows?
They’re screwing over veterinarians as much as patients. For some dogs, it is life or death. (Seen both ivermectin toxicity & heavy pos HWs. Heartworms are kinder.)
It doesn’t make sense. They are losing profits & trust, big time.
We all know what a racket the pharmaceutical companies are running anyway, but Novartis flat takes the cake. All I can offer is to rant & rave with you.
Take a swig or tablespoon. Works like a charm and is good for you too!
That’s the same lame excuse they’re giving us about .22 long rifle ammo.
There’s definitely something going on with this. The Norwegian product is known as Pepcidduo, and it is supposed to be available. Yet, any attempty to buy - online or otherwise - is med with “sold out”, and that has been the status for more than two years. Also some online shops mark it - in red - as being available in Oslo by prescription. And there are different producers, so it’s not production problems.
http://www.wellsphere.com/digestive-health-article/is-there-a-recall-on-pepcid-complete/1236089
Remember Leggo my Eggo? Same deal, couldn’t get waffles and they said the factory was having proplems. But now you can get them. Probably some EPA hell inflicted on the company or FDA hell.
I’ve had one daily since 2008.
I tried Gaviscon a few years ago and it immediately became my new favorite. Try it, the Maalox shortage might not even effect you.
Many people get heartburn and indigestion symptoms because they have too little acid not too much. If ACV gives you relief you are probably one of those people. Here is a product that can prevent the problem rather than relieve it...http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-premium-hydrochloric-acid-pepsin-250-caps
The Maalox plant is being retooled to make .22LR ammo lol ... there are better profit margins in ammo.
The best way to recover from them is to eat your vegetables!
About 18 months ago Benefiber disappeared - NOVARTIS - I think it was manufactured in Canada. We missed that one.
Maalox and simethicone are the home remedies/immediate first aid for dogs w/bloat. It can give you another few minutes to get to the vet.
My vet spends a lot of time chasing down various meds that are unavailable. Some, like chewable thyroid have been impossible to get for years.
As for people, I know someone with chronic migraines who has had a standing order at the ER for her medication for years. Last time, it took 2 weeks for the MD to find any. IIRC, they are injectable. She also encountered an Indian MD at the ER who was new to the area. He treated her with contempt, implied she was just a drug seeker (she is in her 60’s)and told her to never show up there again. She filed a complaint and he was fired. It was the second ER doc who took the time to tell her the drug was in short supply and went out of his way to procure it.
When Maalox first disappeared from shelves around here I did a little research and discovered that they had an issue with the FDA over an error in their labeling. Apparently, there’s a small amount of alcohol in the formulation and the amount listed in their ingredients list was incorrect. The amount was so small though that I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t correct the problem with a small stick on label. So I always felt that something else was going on.
“Its a plot against tea drinking sausage lovers.”
OMG...that sounds so ghey.
LOL
Ten of them will buy you time and often stop it in its tracks.
Highly recommended by Great Dane breeders due to their bloating tendencies.
After watching all those Cult videos the other night it activated my metro gene. You Fire Woman, you.
Goo-Goo-GaGa I was Borned this way.
(Gotta be sure and get all the consonants in the word “borned” or you could really give the wrong impression.)
Pffft.
You don’t *have* a metro gene.
Somewhat related;
A friend’s daughter was in a spelling bee and the teacher asked her to spell “biped”..but pronounced it as one syllable.
The daughter asked her to use it in a sentence and the teacher said “Humans are bipeds”.
/contemplating quadrapeds
;]
For a chapter on herbal remidies for Sheep-Dogs.
For humans "The Encyclopedia of medicinal plants by Andrew Chevallier ISBN 0-7894-1067-2
bflr
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