Sufentanil Citrate Injection shortage
Sufentanil Citrate Injection is currently listed in shortage by the FDA. The FDA lists 4 affected products. The reported reason: Other. This page was last refreshed from FDA data on Sep 29, 2026.
Sufentanil citrate injection is in shortage, and Hikma is not currently making it. One of two manufacturers still lists some supply, but the 50 mcg/1 mL strength has no available source right now.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — ask your pharmacist about other manufacturers (see options) and your prescriber about a long-term plan.
Do you take this drug? See the ‘What to do’ recommendation from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →What’s in shortage — at a glance
These figures count only the manufacturers that reported this shortage to the FDA — not every company that makes Sufentanil Citrate Injection. Other makers that haven’t reported a problem are shown in the green card below.
Shortage timeline
-
Sep 22, 2026Currently in shortage4 of 4 products affected.
-
Sep 18, 2026FDA refreshed this shortage record3 products updated.
-
May 3, 2022First reported to the FDA4 products first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
What exactly is on backorder — by manufacturer
Manufacturer: Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. 📞 800-631-2174 3 NDCS click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Sufentanil Citrate, Injection, 50 mcg/1 mL (NDC 17478-050-01) | — | Unavailable | Not currently manufactured | Other |
| Current | Sufentanil Citrate, Injection, 50 mcg/1 mL (NDC 17478-050-05) | — | Unavailable | Not currently manufactured | Other |
| Current | Sufentanil Citrate, Injection, 50 mcg/1 mL (NDC 17478-050-02) | — | Unavailable | Not currently manufactured | Other |
Manufacturer: Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company 📞 844-646-4398 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Sufentanil Citrate, Injection, 50 ug/1 mL (NDC 0409-3382-21) | — | Available | — | — |
These rows are manufacturer reports to the FDA for Sufentanil Citrate Injection — they do not necessarily cover every manufacturer that makes this drug. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other makers may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get Sufentanil Citrate Injection? options further down this page.
Why is Sufentanil Citrate Injection in shortage?
Right now, Hikma Pharmaceuticals is not manufacturing their versions of Sufentanil Citrate Injection 50 mcg/1 mL. The FDA has listed three of Hikma's specific package sizes as unavailable, and their note simply states "not currently manufactured." Unfortunately, Hikma did not share a more specific public reason for why production has stopped, so we don't have details beyond that.
It's worth knowing that this shortage report covers only the manufacturers who filed it with the FDA. In this case, Hospira (a Pfizer company) has reported that their 50 mcg/1 mL version is still available, so this is not a situation where every maker of this medicine has stopped producing it.
Based on the manufacturer-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Sufentanil Citrate Injection, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as manufacturers report changes.
What should I do if I take Sufentanil Citrate Injection?
Sufentanil Citrate Injection is currently on the FDA drug-shortage list. This medicine is given as an injection, so it is typically handled in a clinical setting rather than picked up as a prescription, but I want you to understand where supply stands.
The two entries on this record are very close in labeling, so please check carefully which one applies to you. The 50 ug/1 mL strength (from Hospira, a Pfizer company) is listed as available. The 50 mcg/1 mL strength (from Hikma) is listed as not currently manufactured, meaning there is no available source for that one right now. One of the two manufacturers on this record is still reporting supply.
The FDA lists the reason simply as "Other," and this situation has continued for more than a year. Even so, this reflects only the makers who filed this report.
- Do not stop or change how this medicine is used on your own.
- If your strength still has supply, ask your pharmacy or care team to order it — they can check wholesalers and other makers.
- If your exact strength cannot be found, ask your prescriber or pharmacist about a clinician-chosen option.
- Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference; pharmacies usually make these calls.
This is national, manufacturer-reported data and may not match local stock.
- Don’t stop or change the medication on your own — talk to your prescriber first.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV treatment or prevention, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), do not skip or ration doses — contact your pharmacist or prescriber right away to arrange continued supply before you run out.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other manufacturers, strengths, package sizes, and nearby stores.
- Ask your prescriber whether a different strength, formulation, or the brand/generic version is appropriate.
- This is a controlled substance. Transfers between pharmacies and switching strengths have extra federal/state rules — ask the pharmacy before you assume a transfer is possible.
Where else can I get Sufentanil Citrate Injection?
FDA shortages are manufacturer-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every maker of Sufentanil Citrate Injection is necessarily short. Below we pull together the other still-marketed options that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from manufacturers that haven’t reported a problem, and alternative dosage forms. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Alternative dosage forms of Sufentanil Citrate
A different form of the same drug (for example a solution when capsules are short). A form change is a clinical decision — ask your prescriber:
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 3 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sufentanil Citrate 50 ug/mL | Akorn | 10 ampules | — | AP | Discontinued |
| Sufentanil Citrate 50 ug/mL | Akorn | 10 ampules | — | AP | Discontinued |
| Sufentanil Citrate 50 ug/mL | Akorn | 10 ampules | — | AP | Discontinued |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Other drugs in the same treatment class
These are different medicines — not other versions of Sufentanil Citrate Injection — that fall in the same broad treatment class (opioid analgesic, anesthetic adjunct agents) . They are not automatic substitutes: they can differ in how they work, dosing, effectiveness, side effects and what they’re approved to treat. Do not switch on your own. This list is for information only — ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of them is appropriate for you.
Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
Other analgesia/addiction, pediatric shortages
Sufentanil Citrate Injection shortage FAQs
Is Sufentanil Citrate Injection in shortage?
Why is Sufentanil Citrate Injection in shortage?
Which products are affected?
When will Sufentanil Citrate Injection be available again?
Can I still get Sufentanil Citrate somewhere?
What should I do if I take Sufentanil Citrate Injection?
Still have a question about the Sufentanil Citrate Injection shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Sufentanil Citrate Injection on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (still-marketed manufacturers by ingredient & form); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.