Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection

What This Dexmedetomidine Shortage Record Means

The FDA Drug Shortages database lists this record for Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (brand: PRECEDEX) from Pfizer Inc. with a current status of Active Shortage. The affected dosage form is Injection, presented as Precedex, Injection, 200 mcg/50 mL (4 mcg/mL) (NDC 0409-4596-20). Shortages are tracked at the manufacturer and presentation level — other manufacturers or formulations of the same generic may remain available, which is why pharmacists often can source a working substitute even when one record is flagged.

This shortage was first reported on Apr 10, 2020 and was last updated Mar 13, 2026. FDA-supplied reason codes are not recorded for this entry; common drivers include manufacturing quality issues, raw-material constraints, demand surges, and voluntary business decisions to discontinue a presentation. There are 6 other current records in this database covering the same generic, which gives a fuller picture of how disruption is playing out across manufacturers and dosage forms.

A shortage listing is a supply-side signal, not a patient-level instruction. Access can vary dramatically by pharmacy, region, hospital system, and insurance formulary — local pharmacists have real-time visibility that a national database cannot provide. Therapeutic substitutes often exist in the same class, but switching decisions belong with your prescriber, who weighs efficacy, dosing conversion, interaction profile, and personal history. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational reference only and is not medical advice. If your medication is affected, contact your pharmacist and prescriber to plan an appropriate response.