How to Find Cyanokit in Stock Near You (Tools + Tips)

If you're a hospital pharmacist, EMS director, or emergency medicine provider trying to secure Cyanokit (hydroxocobalamin) supply in 2026, you already know the challenge: the drug has been in shortage since late 2024 with no confirmed resolution date. Finding available supply requires a proactive, multi-channel approach.

This guide outlines the most effective tools and strategies for locating Cyanokit when supply is constrained — and what to do while you wait.

Who Needs to Find Cyanokit — and Why It's Not at Retail Pharmacies

Cyanokit is an emergency IV antidote — not a medication filled at your local pharmacy. It is stocked and administered exclusively in institutional and prehospital settings:

• Hospital emergency departments and ICUs
• Advanced life support (ALS) ambulances and paramedic units
• Fire departments with medical response capabilities
• Industrial facilities and hazmat teams in high-risk industries
• Medical toxicology units

If you're a patient or family member looking for information, speak with your local hospital's emergency department or poison control center (1-800-222-1222). If you're a healthcare provider or purchasing agent, the strategies below apply directly to you.

Step 1: Check the ASHP Drug Shortage Database

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) maintains a Drug Shortage Resource Center at ashp.org. This is the most authoritative, up-to-date source on the Cyanokit shortage status, impacted manufacturers, and any anticipated resolution dates. Check the Cyanokit (hydroxocobalamin for injection) listing regularly for updated guidance.

Step 2: Contact Your Primary Pharmaceutical Distributor

Your hospital pharmacy's primary distributor — such as McKesson, Cardinal Health, or AmerisourceBergen — is the first point of contact for sourcing Cyanokit. Specifically ask about:

• Current inventory levels and allocation status
• Expected restock timelines
• Whether released batches (with 0.2-micron filter requirement) are available
• Backorder queue position for your facility

Step 3: Contact SERB Pharmaceuticals' Specialty Solutions Center Directly

SERB Pharmaceuticals — the manufacturer of Cyanokit — operates a dedicated Specialty Solutions Center (SSC) that assists hospitals and EMS agencies with sourcing during shortage situations. Contacting them directly (via the Cyanokit website at cyanokit.com or by calling BTG/SERB at 1-877-377-3784) can sometimes open allocation channels that aren't available through standard distribution.

Step 4: Reach Out to Specialty Emergency Medicine Suppliers

Several specialty suppliers focus on EMS pharmaceuticals and emergency antidotes. Companies like Life-Assist and Bound Tree Medical specifically service EMS agencies and may have access to allocation that general hospital distributors don't. If your EMS agency or fire department is seeking Cyanokit, these specialty channels are worth contacting.

Step 5: Coordinate with Your Regional Poison Control Center

Regional poison control centers (reach the national network at 1-800-222-1222) are often plugged into shortage intelligence and can direct providers to facilities with available antidote stock. They can also provide the most current clinical guidance on alternative treatment protocols if Cyanokit is unavailable.

Step 6: Use medfinder to Locate Available Supply

For healthcare providers and purchasing agents, medfinder for providers offers a streamlined way to check which facilities and distributors have Cyanokit in stock. Instead of making dozens of individual calls to pharmacies and suppliers, medfinder contacts the network for you and reports back what's available in your region. This is especially valuable during shortage situations when supply is fragmented across many different sources.

What to Do If You Cannot Find Cyanokit

If Cyanokit is genuinely unavailable in your area, the FDA-approved alternative is Nithiodote (sodium nitrite + sodium thiosulfate). Key considerations for using Nithiodote:

• Smoke inhalation victims: Sodium nitrite is relatively contraindicated because it creates methemoglobinemia, which worsens oxygen delivery in patients with concurrent carbon monoxide poisoning. In these cases, sodium thiosulfate alone (without nitrite) may be a safer option.
• Non-fire cyanide exposures: Nithiodote is effective for cyanide salt ingestion and industrial exposures where carbon monoxide is not a concern.
• 100% oxygen: Should be administered in all cyanide poisoning cases, regardless of antidote choice.

Always consult your regional poison control center for real-time clinical guidance during a cyanide poisoning emergency. See our full post on alternatives to Cyanokit for more detail on the clinical decision-making process.

Preparing Your Facility Before an Emergency Occurs

The most important lesson from the Cyanokit shortage is the value of advance preparation. If you wait until a cyanide poisoning arrives at your door to check your Cyanokit stock, it may be too late. Emergency departments, EMS medical directors, and fire department medical officers should conduct regular inventory audits and verify supplier availability on a quarterly basis.