Bacitracin Ophthalmic Ointment

What This Bacitracin Shortage Record Means

The FDA Drug Shortages database lists this record for Bacitracin Ophthalmic Ointment (brand: BACITRACIN) from Padagis US LLC with a current status of Active Shortage. The affected dosage form is Ophthalmic Ointment, presented as Bacitracin, Ophthalmic Ointment, 3.5 g (NDC 0574-4022-35). 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 Mar 3, 2025 and was last updated Feb 4, 2026. The FDA cites the following reason: Shortage is estimated for 20 months. No other current shortage records match this generic in the database, which can signal that either the disruption is contained to one manufacturer or other suppliers have not yet formally reported a shortfall.

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.