Sterile Water Irrigant

What This Sterile Shortage Record Means

The FDA Drug Shortages database lists this record for Sterile Water Irrigant (brand: STERILE WATER) from Baxter Healthcare with a current status of Active Shortage. The affected dosage form is Irrigant, presented as Sterile Water, Irrigant, 100 mL/100 mL (NDC 0338-0004-04). 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 28, 2023 and was last updated Mar 4, 2026. The FDA cites the following reason: Estimated availability: April 2026. 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.