Finding Mannitol During a Shortage Isn't Easy — But It's Possible

If your hospital or healthcare facility is struggling to source Mannitol, you're dealing with a problem that's been affecting facilities across the country. ICU Medical's Mannitol 20% premixed IV bags have been on allocation since 2023, and supply remains tight in 2026.

Whether you're a patient worried about your upcoming treatment, a caregiver trying to understand the situation, or a facility manager looking for supply, this guide will walk you through the best ways to find Mannitol in stock right now.

Tip #1: Use Medfinder to Track Real-Time Availability

Medfinder is a free tool designed to help people find medications that are hard to get — including hospital medications like Mannitol that are affected by national shortages.

Here's how it helps:

• Real-time tracking of Mannitol availability across suppliers and facilities
• Alerts when Mannitol becomes available in your area
• Simple search — just type "Mannitol" and see current stock status

This is especially useful because Mannitol isn't a medication you can shop around for at retail pharmacies. It's a hospital supply item, and tracking its availability requires different tools than you'd use for a typical prescription.

Tip #2: Work with Your Hospital Pharmacy Team

Your hospital's pharmacy department is on the front lines of managing drug shortages. They have direct relationships with wholesalers and distributors, and they often know about supply changes before anyone else.

Here's what to ask:

• "Is Mannitol currently available in our formulary?" — This tells you if the hospital has stock on hand.
• "Are there alternative formulations available?" — Mannitol comes in 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% concentrations. Sometimes one concentration is available when others aren't.
• "Can we source from a secondary wholesaler?" — Hospitals often have contracts with backup distributors.

If you're a patient, you may not interact directly with the pharmacy purchasing team, but your doctor or nurse can relay your concerns and check on supply for your specific treatment.

Tip #3: Ask About Compounding Options

When commercially manufactured Mannitol isn't available, some hospital pharmacies and 503B outsourcing facilities can compound Mannitol solutions. This isn't a solution for every facility, but it's worth asking about.

Compounded Mannitol must meet strict sterility and quality standards, so not every pharmacy can do this. But larger health systems with in-house compounding capabilities may have this option available.

What If You Still Can't Find Mannitol?

If Mannitol is genuinely unavailable for your treatment, don't panic. There are well-established alternatives to Mannitol that your healthcare team can consider:

• Hypertonic Saline — Now widely used as a first-line alternative for reducing intracranial pressure. Available in 3%, 7.5%, and 23.4% concentrations.
• Furosemide (Lasix) — A loop diuretic that can help reduce fluid overload when Mannitol isn't available.
• Glycerol — An older osmotic agent that may be used in certain situations.

Your doctor will choose the best alternative based on your specific condition. The most important thing is to communicate openly with your care team about any concerns you have regarding medication availability.

Special Situation: Finding Bronchitol (Inhaled Mannitol)

If you use Bronchitol for cystic fibrosis, the search process is different. Bronchitol is dispensed through specialty pharmacies, not hospital supply chains. Here's what to do:

• Contact your specialty pharmacy directly to check stock
• Ask your pulmonologist's office to help coordinate with the pharmacy
• Look into the Chiesi CareConnect program for support with access and affordability
• If your specialty pharmacy is out of stock, ask if they can transfer your prescription to another specialty pharmacy in their network

Stay Ahead of the Shortage

Drug shortages can change quickly. What's unavailable today might be back in stock next week, and vice versa. The best strategy is to stay informed and have a backup plan.

Here are some resources to bookmark:

• Medfinder — Real-time medication availability tracking
• Mannitol Shortage Update for 2026 — Our latest patient-friendly shortage summary
• Why Is Mannitol So Hard to Find? — Background on the shortage causes

Final Thoughts

Finding Mannitol in 2026 takes a little more effort than it should, but you have tools and options. Start with Medfinder to check real-time availability, work closely with your hospital pharmacy team, and make sure your healthcare provider has a backup plan in place.

The shortage won't last forever, but in the meantime, being proactive is the best thing you can do for yourself or your loved one.