Why is Maalox disappearing from drug store shelves?

ASK.com ^ | Vanity

[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.

[Drango]

I can't find any cooked Italian Sausage

Walmart is out of ammo. /thread hijack

[vetvetdoug]

Maalox is a cheap and effective drug for gastric acidity, gas, and the phosphorus binding capability. The drug has been around since the 1920’s and not had any side effects. There is not a new drug on the market that is as cheap and effective as aluminum hydroxide gel or liquid for heartburn, gastric acidity, and the ability to bind phosphorus in renal failure patients.

Several veterinary compounding companies have taken up the slack but the cost is much higher.

[LibWhacker]

Eeeeesh! Emergency rooms and ambulances ought to be required to keep that pic handy for victims of poisoning. No more pumping out stomachs.

[Winstons Julia]

I meant three teaspoons. My bad. That might still seem like a lot, but I only use it when I have terrible heartburn. It’s pretty rare.

[KGeorge]

Don’t forget the whole Primatene thing. (I think it’s) Armstrong has had an updated inhaler ready to go for months &...crickets- because the FDA won’t approve it.
Pharmaceutical companies are the devil, AFAIC.

To spokeshave- Thank you for those referrals. I’ll probably go with Filaribits or compounded for my 2 that cannot take Ivermectin or the “alternatives” in the meantime, but I’m looking for something else (Only Naturals has a drop that’s a maybe)

I didn’t know Pepcid was gone, too. That’s not good! I take Zantac off & on, but if the dogs ever eat grass or get pukey, they get half a 10 mg Pepcid.

[teech]

I know I’m late to this party, but better late than never...
No disrespect meant (really, no snark), but a “turkey sausage” is an oxymoron.
Ain’t no such animal!
Sausages are pork and/or beef, period.
Anything else is outright un-American.

[JoeProBono]

[WhatConspiracy]

I’m going to say the pharmaceutical companies want it off the shelf because it takes care of shingles. They have a new shot for that and want everyone to take it.