Parkinson’s Disease Drug Shortage Leaves Patients Scrambling—Here’s How to Avoid the Sky-High Prices Ravaging Your Wallet
A critical shortage of a common Parkinson’s disease medication is hitting pharmacies nationwide, and it’s about to drain your bank account if you or a loved one relies on it. Amantadine, a generic drug used to control tremors and stiffness, is running low thanks to supply chain snags, leaving patients paying up to five times more for hard-to-find alternatives. If you use a drugstore chain like CVS or Walgreens, brace for inventory gaps and price hikes—some insurers are refusing to cover the pricier substitutes, meaning you could be stuck with a bill as high as $300 a month out-of-pocket. To protect your wallet, ask your doctor now about switching to a different generic, or call your insurance to see if mail-order pharmacies have stock. Don’t wait until your next refill—merging this crisis with your routine checkup could save you from a financial tremor.