Dorzolamide Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If your pharmacy has recently told you that dorzolamide is out of stock — or if you're seeing news about glaucoma medication availability — you may be wondering: is there a dorzolamide shortage in 2026? This article gives you the clearest picture possible, based on current FDA shortage data and real-world pharmacy availability.

Current Dorzolamide Shortage Status (2026)

As of 2026, there is no active FDA-declared nationwide shortage of dorzolamide 2% ophthalmic solution. The drug is manufactured by multiple generic pharmaceutical companies following the discontinuation of the original brand-name Trusopt by Merck. This multi-manufacturer supply landscape generally provides more resilience against widespread shortages.

That said, "no national shortage" doesn't mean every pharmacy has it on the shelf today. Regional and local stock-outs are common with specialty ophthalmic medications, and they can feel just as disruptive as a formal shortage when you need to fill your prescription.

Why Dorzolamide Can Be Difficult to Find Even Without a Formal Shortage

Several factors contribute to localized availability issues with dorzolamide:

• Brand-to-generic transition: When Trusopt was discontinued, the market shifted entirely to generics. During these transitions, purchasing patterns can temporarily create gaps in wholesale supply to individual pharmacies.
• Multiple manufacturer complexity: Pharmacies may be contracted with specific distributors who carry certain manufacturers. If a specific manufacturer has a supply disruption, your local pharmacy may have limited options.
• Low stocking quantities: Ophthalmic solutions have lower overall sales volume compared to common oral medications. Smaller pharmacies may only stock 2-5 bottles at a time, making them vulnerable to brief stock-outs.
• Confusion with the combination product: Dorzolamide alone and dorzolamide/timolol (Cosopt) are sometimes confused by pharmacy systems. Your prescription may be declined because the system searches for the wrong formulation.

What the FDA Shortage Database Shows

The FDA maintains a publicly available drug shortage database at FDA.gov. Patients and providers can check this database to see if any specific formulation of dorzolamide has been officially declared in shortage. As of this writing, dorzolamide ophthalmic solution 2% is not listed as a current shortage on the FDA's database.

When the FDA does officially declare a drug shortage, it typically means the manufacturing capacity cannot meet demand across the entire national distribution network. The dorzolamide situation in 2026 is more nuanced — availability is generally adequate, but not uniform across all pharmacy locations.

The Trusopt Discontinuation: What Happened to the Brand?

Trusopt, the original brand-name dorzolamide product developed by Merck, has been discontinued in the U.S. market. This is a voluntary business decision by the manufacturer, not an FDA action or safety recall. Because generic dorzolamide is available from multiple manufacturers and meets the same FDA standards as the brand, this discontinuation does not pose a patient safety risk — but it does mean that if your prescription specifically says "Trusopt," the pharmacist will substitute a generic.

What Should Patients Do Right Now?

Even in the absence of a formal shortage, glaucoma patients should take proactive steps to ensure consistent access to dorzolamide:

1. Don't wait until your last dose. Refill dorzolamide when you have about 1-2 weeks of medication remaining, not when the bottle is empty.
2. Know your backup pharmacies. Identify at least 2-3 pharmacies in your area that regularly carry dorzolamide — so you have options if your primary pharmacy is out.
3. Use medfinder if your pharmacy is out. medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to find which ones have your medication in stock, so you don't have to make multiple calls.
4. Consider a 90-day mail-order supply. Mail-order pharmacies carry larger quantities of generics and face fewer stock-out issues than retail chains. Ask your doctor to write a 90-day prescription.
5. Ask your eye doctor about alternatives. If dorzolamide is consistently hard to get, brinzolamide or a prostaglandin analog may be a simpler solution.

Is There a Risk of a Future Dorzolamide Shortage?

While no one can predict future drug availability with certainty, the multi-manufacturer generic landscape for dorzolamide provides more supply resilience than brand-only medications. However, factors like consolidation among generic manufacturers, raw material supply chains from overseas, and regulatory actions can all affect availability without warning.

The best protection is preparedness: know your options, refill early, and have a conversation with your ophthalmologist about contingency plans before a crisis arises.

If you're currently struggling to fill your prescription, medfinder can help you locate dorzolamide in stock at pharmacies near you. Read more in our full guide on why dorzolamide is hard to find.