What Happened to Refresh PM? Why is it Unavailable?

[AdminWolf]

Refresh PM disappeared from store shelves last fall, much to the dismay of people with severe dry eye.

I'd even noticed the mass media had picked up the story (I'd heard about it during a segment on NPR while driving the other day.)

So I thought i'd reach out to Allergan to get the real scoop on what was happening.

In this quick interview, I spoke with Dave Gibson, Associate VP of Consumer Eyecare at Allergan.

I wanted to ask him:

* What happened?
* What alternatives are available?
* When will Refresh PM will be back on store shelves?!

Enjoy...
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[AdminWolf]

BTW before anyone asks -- as always, full disclosure at ODwire.org - we didn't get paid by anyone to post this. I was genuinely curious when I heard about this in the national media (a product shortage lasting for several months), so I rang up the most senior person that I knew at Allergan.

It is very rare that you hear anything eye care related on the national news, let alone a story about thousands of consumers organizing because they were annoyed...

 

[Stewart Gooderman]

There are numerous ocular pharmaceuticals and associated diagnostic products that are becoming difficult to get. And each seems to have a different reason for their short supply. Optics Lab Mini Drops Eye Therapy has been OOS for over a year!

 

[AdminWolf]

There are numerous ocular pharmaceuticals and associated diagnostic products that are becoming difficult to get. And each seems to have a different reason for their short supply. Optics Lab Mini Drops Eye Therapy has been OOS for over a year!

If you point me in the right direction, i'm happy to find out why others are in short supply. Refresh PM was a surprise to me (for those who don't listen to the interview, it turns out the type of packaging they need to use is changing, and the switch-over is what's taking so long.)

 

[Joe DiGiorgio O.D.]

Logistics.

 

[Paul Farkas]

BTW before anyone asks -- as always, full disclosure at ODwire.org - we didn't get paid by anyone to post this. I was genuinely curious when I heard about this in the national media (a product shortage lasting for several months), so I rang up the most senior person that I knew at Allergan.

It is very rare that you hear anything eye care related on the national news, let alone a story about thousands of consumers organizing because they were annoyed...

Adam is very modest about the depth of his contacts. He can reach out to company executives at the highest levels and get his communications and concerns addressed .

I'm often asked... "Why become a supporting member? I get ODwire.org at no cost why spend $49 a year to be a supporting member?".

That 14 cents a day means nothing to you, but it means a lot to show us you care about Adam going beyond the ordinary to supply information or us getting to do special Webinars and interviews without the need for sponsorship.

Still not a supporting member? It takes just a few minutes to sign up.

https://www.odwire.org/community/account/upgrades

Thanks.

Paul

 

[Michael Barris]

it turns out the type of packaging they need to use is changing, and the switch-over is what's taking so long.)

This suggests that the manufacturer is lacking in foresight and not well organized in that product availability is eliminated while packaging is changed.

 

[Stewart Gooderman]

If you point me in the right direction, i'm happy to find out why others are in short supply. Refresh PM was a surprise to me (for those who don't listen to the interview, it turns out the type of packaging they need to use is changing, and the switch-over is what's taking so long.)

If you call Optics Laboratory 800-968-6788 maybe you can get an answer. I haven't been able to.

Ordering fluorescein strips there are maximum boxes you can order on a web site or two. OcuSoft lost their supplier of Tropicamide. It's crazy.

 

[Larry Bickford O.D.]

I'm often asked... "Why become a supporting member? I get ODwire.org at no cost why spend $49 a year to be a supporting member?".

That 14 cents a day means nothing to you, but it means a lot to show us you care about Adam going beyond the ordinary to supply information or us getting to do special Webinars and interviews without the need for sponsorship.

Still not a supporting member? It takes just a few minutes to sign up.

https://www.odwire.org/community/account/upgrades

Thanks.

Paul

I wonder why it is a person who has posted thousands of times is not a "supporting member". Is "well known member" incorrect? I mean my status was listed as that even though I am a supporting. It was an oversight (forgot to pony up, did not see a statement) and was quickly fixed. So I hope everyone checks to make sure you are correctly labeled.

Meanwhile, has Trump eliminated the tax credit for professional development or educational subscriptions? Is that the excuse for not supporting ODWire. Damn. I knew it was Trump's fault.

Even if so, I would think that anyone who can post thousands of times might have 14 cents a day to contribute to Paul's and Adam's incredible wealth.

 

[Joe DiGiorgio O.D.]

So what happened to:

• fluorescein strips. When has the price gone from like $29 for a box of 300 to like $>$100
  
  
• 2.5% phenylephrine (generic) going from like $6.99 to about $129/bottle
  
  
• 5% homatropine: can we still even get it?
  
  
• flourometholone (generic FML)--why the hell is CVS asking me for clinical justification for why I am Rx-ing it (not a prior authorization from the insurance companies). I am a trained & licensed practitioner and wrote a valid legal prescription. Why do I have to give their pharmacist further clinical justification?

Why is it that we NEVER had these shortages or price gouging in all the prior years?

 

[Stewart Gooderman]

So what happened to:

• fluorescein strips. When has the price gone from like $29 for a box of 300 to like $>$100
  
  
• 2.5% phenylephrine (generic) going from like $6.99 to about $129/bottle
  
  
• 5% homatropine: can we still even get it?
  
  
• flourometholone (generic FML)--why the hell is CVS asking me for clinical justification for why I am Rx-ing it (not a prior authorization from the insurance companies). I am a trained & licensed practitioner and wrote a valid legal prescription. Why do I have to give their pharmacist further clinical justification?

Why is it they we NEVER had these shortages or price gouging in all the prior years?

As far as my understanding goes (and others can correct my ignorance on this) some of this is due the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many years ago, there was a mandate set by the FDA that all grandfathered drugs be officially tested for efficacy and safety. This mandate was postponed year after year because, having been used for decades without any problems, officially determining what everybody knew already was not top priority. But the ACA mandated that *all* medications be, in effect, "brought up to code." That company doing the testing would get permission to continue manufacturing the medication. Well, if only one company does the work and get the prize, you have a monopoly situation arise with somebody needing to pay off the "R&D" and the greed that comes with a monopoly. Hence the skyrocketing prices.

 

[Joe DiGiorgio O.D.]

That company doing the testing would get permission to continue manufacturing the medication. Well, if only one company does the work and get the prize, you have a monopoly situation arise with somebody needing to pay off the "R&D" and the greed that comes with a monopoly. Hence the skyrocketing prices.

Yes, I have heard similiar.

Hoping that they do not decide that R&D needs to be done on air and water and some corporation gets a patent or trademark.

 

[Stewart Gooderman]

Yes, I have heard similiar.

Hoping that they do not decide that R&D needs to be done on air and water and some corporation gets a patent or trademark.

Something like that has been attempted, unfortunately.