How to help your patients find Betaxolol in stock: A provider's guide

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

The Betaxolol shortage is generating a steady stream of patient calls, messages, and appointment requests. Patients can't fill their prescriptions, and they're turning to their providers for help. This guide offers practical workflows your practice can implement to manage Betaxolol availability issues efficiently—saving time for your staff and reducing treatment gaps for your patients.

Understanding the Scope of the Problem

Both oral and ophthalmic Betaxolol formulations are affected:

• Oral tablets (10 mg, 20 mg): Limited generic supply after Epic Pharma discontinued production. Brand Kerlone was already discontinued.
• Betoptic S (0.25% suspension): Permanently discontinued by Novartis globally in 2024.
• Generic 0.5% ophthalmic solution: Still available intermittently from select manufacturers.

For a detailed clinical overview, see our companion article on what prescribers need to know about the Betaxolol shortage.

Step 1: Identify Affected Patients Proactively

Don't wait for patients to contact you. Run a report in your EHR to identify all patients currently prescribed Betaxolol (oral or ophthalmic). This allows you to reach out proactively rather than reactively, which:

• Reduces inbound call volume
• Prevents treatment gaps before they happen
• Demonstrates proactive patient care

Consider sending a batch message to affected patients explaining the shortage and outlining next steps.

Step 2: Use MedFinder to Check Availability

MedFinder for Providers allows your practice to quickly check which pharmacies have Betaxolol in stock. This is significantly faster than having staff call pharmacies individually.

How to integrate it into your workflow:

• When a patient reports they can't fill their Betaxolol prescription, check MedFinder first
• If Betaxolol is available at a nearby pharmacy, send the prescription there
• If no local pharmacy has stock, proceed to Step 3 (alternative medications)

You can also direct patients to use MedFinder on their own to check availability before contacting your office.

Step 3: Prepare Alternative Prescriptions

Having pre-determined alternative protocols reduces decision fatigue and speeds up patient transitions. Here are recommended alternatives by indication:

For Hypertension (Oral Betaxolol)

• First choice: Bisoprolol 5 mg once daily (closest pharmacological match)
• Second choice: Metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL) 50 mg once daily
• Third choice: Atenolol 50 mg once daily

Taper protocol: Reduce Betaxolol to 10 mg daily for 7-14 days (if currently on 20 mg), then discontinue and start the alternative. For patients already on 10 mg with limited remaining supply, consider an overlapping transition if clinically appropriate.

For Glaucoma/Ocular Hypertension (Ophthalmic Betaxolol)

• Patients WITHOUT respiratory disease: Timolol 0.5% solution, 1 drop twice daily (or Timolol gel-forming solution once daily)
• Patients WITH asthma/COPD: Latanoprost 0.005% solution, 1 drop at bedtime; or Brimonidine 0.1-0.2%, 1 drop two to three times daily

Step 4: Streamline Prescription Transfers

If a patient finds Betaxolol at a different pharmacy (via MedFinder or on their own), facilitate a quick prescription transfer:

• Send a new electronic prescription to the pharmacy with stock
• Or help the patient initiate a pharmacy-to-pharmacy transfer
• Consider writing for a 90-day supply when stock is available to reduce future disruptions

Step 5: Create a Standard Communication Template

Prepare a template message (for your patient portal, phone staff, or letters) that addresses the Betaxolol shortage. This saves time and ensures consistent communication. Example:

"We're aware that Betaxolol is currently difficult to find due to manufacturer supply issues. We are monitoring the situation and have identified alternative medications if needed. Please contact our office if you're unable to fill your prescription, and we'll work with you to find a solution. You can also check pharmacy availability at medfinder.com."

Step 6: Schedule Follow-Up for Transitioned Patients

Patients who switch from Betaxolol to an alternative should have a follow-up visit within 2-4 weeks to assess:

• Hypertension patients: Blood pressure control, heart rate, side effects
• Glaucoma patients: Intraocular pressure, medication tolerance, adherence

Document the reason for the medication change in the patient's chart (drug shortage) for insurance and continuity-of-care purposes.

Step 7: Monitor for Supply Updates

Stay informed about the Betaxolol shortage through these resources:

• FDA Drug Shortage Database
• ASHP Drug Shortage Resource Center
• MedFinder for Providers — monitor real-time availability

When Betaxolol supply stabilizes, you can transition patients back if clinically appropriate and if the patient prefers their original medication.

Helping Patients Save Money

If patients find Betaxolol but are concerned about cost (cash prices can exceed $40/month without insurance), direct them to our guide on saving money on Betaxolol. Discount cards from SingleCare and GoodRx can reduce the price to under $20/month.

For patients who qualify for financial assistance, our provider guide to helping patients save money on Betaxolol covers patient assistance programs and other resources your staff can use.

Summary: Provider Action Checklist

• ✅ Run an EHR report to identify all Betaxolol patients
• ✅ Proactively communicate about the shortage
• ✅ Use MedFinder for Providers to check availability
• ✅ Prepare standard alternative protocols
• ✅ Create a communication template for staff
• ✅ Schedule follow-ups for transitioned patients
• ✅ Monitor supply updates via FDA and ASHP