Checking Amphotericin B Stock Without Picking Up the Phone

When you need Amphotericin B, time matters. This powerful antifungal treats life-threatening fungal infections, and delays in starting treatment can have serious consequences. But Amphotericin B isn't stocked at your neighborhood CVS or Walgreens — it's a hospital-administered IV medication, and ongoing shortages have made finding it even harder.

Here's how to check availability without spending hours on hold with hospital pharmacies.

Why Is Amphotericin B Hard to Find?

Amphotericin B has been experiencing an active shortage, particularly the conventional deoxycholate formulation manufactured by X-Gen Pharmaceuticals (the sole supplier) and the lipid complex Abelcet from Leadiant Biosciences. Limited manufacturers, complex production processes, and increased demand have all contributed. For a deeper dive, read our guide on why Amphotericin B is so hard to find in 2026.

The good news: the liposomal formulation (AmBisome) has generally remained available, though it's significantly more expensive.

How to Check Availability Without Calling

1. Use Medfinder

Medfinder is designed specifically for hard-to-find medications. You can search for Amphotericin B to check which pharmacies and hospital systems have it in stock, compare formulations, and get real-time availability information — all without making a single phone call.

2. Check Your Hospital's Patient Portal

If you're already a patient at a hospital system, log into your patient portal (MyChart, Epic, etc.). While most portals don't show real-time pharmacy inventory, you can:

• Message your care team directly to ask about Amphotericin B availability
• Check if your prescribing doctor has already communicated with the hospital pharmacy
• Request that the pharmacy team contact you with an update

3. Use Hospital System Pharmacy Websites

Many large hospital systems and academic medical centers have pharmacy departments with online contact forms or email addresses. Check their websites for:

• Drug shortage notices or alerts
• Formulary information (which formulations they carry)
• Direct pharmacy department contact forms

4. Check the FDA Drug Shortage Database

The FDA maintains a drug shortage database that tracks current shortages and expected resolution dates. While it won't tell you which specific pharmacy has stock, it will tell you:

• Which formulations are in shortage
• Which manufacturers are affected
• Estimated recovery timelines

This helps you know which formulation to ask about. For example, if conventional Amphotericin B Deoxycholate is in shortage but AmBisome isn't, you can focus your search accordingly.

5. Check the ASHP Drug Shortage Resource Center

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) also tracks shortages and provides recommendations for alternatives. Their website can help you understand what substitutions your hospital pharmacy might make.

If You Prefer to Call

Sometimes a phone call is the fastest route, especially for a hospital-administered medication like Amphotericin B. Here's how to make the process more efficient:

• Call the hospital pharmacy directly — not the main hospital number. Ask the operator to transfer you to the inpatient or infusion pharmacy.
• Ask about all formulations — "Do you have any formulation of Amphotericin B available? Conventional, liposomal (AmBisome), or lipid complex (Abelcet)?"
• Ask about expected restocking — If they're out, ask when they expect their next shipment.
• Contact multiple hospitals — Academic medical centers and large hospital systems tend to have better access to shortage medications.
• Ask about compounding pharmacies — Some specialty compounding pharmacies can prepare Amphotericin B formulations.

Once You Find It

When you locate a pharmacy or hospital that has Amphotericin B in stock:

• Act quickly — During a shortage, supply can change fast. Let your prescribing doctor know immediately so they can coordinate.
• Confirm the formulation — Make sure the available formulation matches what your doctor ordered. The formulations are not interchangeable — doses are different, and switching requires a new order from your doctor.
• Check insurance coverage — Amphotericin B is typically covered under your medical benefit (not pharmacy benefit) since it's administered in a hospital or infusion center. If your hospital needs to switch formulations due to shortage, prior authorization may be required, especially for the more expensive lipid formulations.
• Ask about treatment logistics — Can you receive infusions at that facility, or will the medication be transferred to your home hospital? This matters for coordination of care.

Final Thoughts

Finding Amphotericin B in stock during the current shortage is genuinely challenging, but you have options beyond spending all day on the phone. Start with Medfinder for the fastest availability check, use the FDA and ASHP shortage databases to know which formulations to target, and don't hesitate to broaden your search to multiple hospital systems.

If you're a healthcare provider looking for tools to help patients find Amphotericin B, check out our provider's guide to finding Amphotericin B in stock. And if the shortage has you considering alternative antifungal medications, talk to your infectious disease specialist about what options are appropriate for your specific infection.