How to Help Your Patients Find Relagard in Stock: A Provider's Guide

If you are seeing a pattern of patients calling back to report that they cannot fill their Relagard prescription, you are not alone. Relagard (acetic acid 0.9% / oxyquinoline 0.025% vaginal gel) has become difficult to find at many retail pharmacies in 2026, and as a prescriber, you play a key role in helping patients navigate these gaps. This guide covers practical, evidence-informed strategies you can implement at the point of prescribing.

Why Patients Are Struggling to Find Relagard

Relagard is an unapproved drug marketed under FDA enforcement discretion. Without FDA approval, it is not subject to the same supply chain reporting requirements as approved prescription drugs. The result is inconsistent availability, especially at large chain pharmacies. Independent and compounding pharmacies are more likely to stock it, but even they can experience gaps.

Strategy 1: Prescribe by Generic Name and Allow Brand Substitution

One of the easiest ways to improve access is to write the prescription using the generic formulation name rather than the brand name Relagard. Write:

"Acetic acid 0.9% / Oxyquinoline 0.025% vaginal gel, 50g — may substitute Fem pH or equivalent"

This gives pharmacists the flexibility to fill with whichever brand they carry — Relagard, Fem pH, or another equivalent — without requiring a new call to your office. Fem pH contains the same active ingredients and is therapeutically identical to Relagard.

Strategy 2: Write a Compounding Prescription as a Backup

Consider providing patients with a backup compounding prescription at the time of the original visit. When manufactured Relagard is unavailable, a compounding pharmacy can prepare acetic acid/oxyquinoline vaginal gel from pharmaceutical-grade raw ingredients. Accredited compounding pharmacies (PCAB-accredited) are preferable for quality assurance.

Compounding prescription language:

"Compounded acetic acid 0.9% / oxyquinoline 0.025% vaginal gel, 50g applicator — use one applicatorful vaginally BID"

Strategy 3: Refer Patients to medfinder

medfinder is a service that contacts pharmacies near the patient to find which ones have their medication in stock. The patient provides their medication, strength, and ZIP code — medfinder does the calling and texts the results. Recommending medfinder at the time of prescribing gives patients a head start before they hit a dead end at their first pharmacy. Learn more at medfinder.com/providers.

39,333+ patients found their medications in stock

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Strategy 4: Build a Local Pharmacy Relationship

If your practice is in a specific geographic area and you frequently prescribe Relagard, consider reaching out to a local independent pharmacy or compounding pharmacy and establishing a standing arrangement. Letting them know that multiple patients from your practice will regularly need this product gives them the business case to maintain inventory.

Strategy 5: Proactively Counsel Patients at Time of Prescribing

Rather than waiting for a frustrated call-back, set patient expectations at the visit:

Explain that Relagard may not be available at all pharmacy locations

Recommend calling independent pharmacies first before large chains

Mention medfinder as a resource that searches across pharmacies on their behalf

Provide the compounding prescription as a backup option

Let patients know that Fem pH is a therapeutically equivalent fallback if they encounter it first

Skip the calls, skip the stress.

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50K+

Medications
Found

99%

Success
Rate

6+

Hours saved
on average

Strategy 6: Have a Bridge Therapy Plan Ready

For patients using Relagard as maintenance therapy for recurrent BV, an extended inability to obtain it poses real clinical risk. Prepare a contingency:

Metronidazole 0.75% vaginal gel for interim treatment if BV recurs

Boric acid 600 mg vaginal suppositories for pH maintenance (off-label but evidence-supported)

Probiotics with Lactobacillus rhamnosus or L. reuteri as supportive adjunct

Documentation and Coding Notes

When substituting Relagard with an alternative due to availability, document the clinical rationale and confirm patient understanding of the substitution. If prescribing a compounded alternative, note the specific compounding formulation in the medication record to maintain continuity of care across visits and providers.

For more detail on the clinical and regulatory background of Relagard availability issues, see our article on what providers need to know about the Relagard shortage.