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Exclusive: A woman with a painful back condition said she doesn't know how she'll cope as a drug she says is essential to her life is discontinued in Australia.
Anna McKay, 67, has been taking a form of liquid morphine called Ordine for more than ten years for the pain from Cauda Equina Syndrome, which is caused by a compression of a bundle of spinal nerves.
As reported by 9news.com.au Ordine is a type of liquid morphine which won't be available anymore because it's "not commercially viable".
READ MORE: Fears dying patients could face more suffering with drug shortage
Different strengths will be discontinued between the end of this year and early 2024.
But when McKay, from Melbourne, went to collect her latest prescription last week, her local pharmacist told her the 10mg form she takes is running out already.
"She said 'there's only 36 bottles left at the warehouse'," she told 9news.com.au.
"I don't know if that's all pharmacies. She said she would have to try and order in another one or two," she told 9News.com.au
"She didn't give us much hope.
"Without the Ordine I don't know how I'm going to cope.
'Disastrous' situation
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) flagged a shortage after company Mundipharma announced the plan to stop supplying the medicine.
The drug is also used in end of life care and for progressive and painful conditions such as COPD.
Doctors said they feared dying patients could face more pain and suffering due to the expected shortage and discontinuation.
McKay, whose husband Ron, 69, is her carer said she has tried alternative painkillers but none of them work as well as the slow release liquid.
"It's not enough," she said.
"My doctor was talking about alternatives and none of them sounds too great.
"This is disastrous. It's constantly on my mind. It's ghastly."
McKay, who has a son Nicholas, 31, has undergone nine back surgeries since damaging her back lifting a box in her 20s.
She later developed nerve damage known as peripheral neuropathy which also causes numbness.
The TGA predicted different strengths of the drug would start running out from the end of the year and according to a statement, Mrs McKay's isn't being discontinued until March 2024.
Palliative care advocates are calling on the government to find another supplier, plus remove red tape so patients can afford access to it as soon as possible.
Australian Doctor's organisation Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) urged the government and pharmaceutical industry to work together to ensure patients can get the medicines they need
"Medicine or dose substitution is often an option, but it's not always an option," RACGP Vice President Dr Bruce Willett told 9News.com.
"It's vital we have a sufficient supply of medicines and plans in place where shortages might become an issue."
Issue is a 'high priority'
Earlier this month, the TGA said it was treating the discontinuation with "high priority".
It is now looking at importing similar drugs from overseas, it told 9news.com.au.
"The TGA is investigating the potential for approvals for importation and supply of overseas-registered morphine oral liquids under section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989," a spokesman said.
"We are working with the sponsor of these products as well as health professional groups to minimise the impact of these discontinuations on patients."
A spokeswoman for Mundipharma told 9News.com.au it "strongly regrets any distress caused.
"Ordine was manufactured by a third-party in Australia with Mundipharma holding the Market Authorisation and it was the decision of the third-party organisation to cease production of the range," the spokeswoman said.
"Although regrettably Ordine will be discontinued in Australia we currently have ample stocks of all Ordine products.
"Based on current demand, Ordine oral solution 1 mg is expected to be unavailable from the end of January 2024 with total run-out of stock from wholesalers likely to occur by the end of April 2024.
"We continue to work with the authorities."
Anybody affected should talk to their doctor.
Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.Support is available from Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Do you have a story? Contact journalist Sarah Swain at sswain@nine.com.au
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