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

As the cyclopentolate (Cyclogyl) shortage continues into 2026, eye care providers find themselves navigating a new role: helping patients locate their medication. When a patient leaves your office with a prescription for cyclopentolate — either for at-home use before an appointment or for ongoing uveitis treatment — they may struggle to find it. This guide gives you practical tools and talking points to help them succeed.

Why Patients Struggle to Find Cyclogyl at the Pharmacy

Most patients don't know there's a shortage until they go to fill their prescription and are told the pharmacy is out of stock. Here's what they're dealing with:

Cyclopentolate has been in FDA-listed shortage since 2023 due to Akorn Pharmaceuticals' closure

Only three manufacturers (Alcon, Sandoz, Bausch Health) currently supply the U.S. market

Availability varies widely by pharmacy, region, concentration, and bottle size

Large chain pharmacies often run out first; independent and hospital pharmacies may have stock longer

Patients calling 3-5 pharmacies may still come up empty — they need a smarter approach

The Best Tool to Recommend: medfinder

The most effective tool for patients struggling to find cyclopentolate is medfinder. medfinder calls pharmacies near the patient to check which ones can fill their prescription. The patient receives results by text. This approach is more thorough and efficient than patients calling pharmacies themselves.

medfinder works for all medications — not just cyclopentolate. During a shortage, it's especially valuable because it checks pharmacies that patients might not think to call, including independents and hospitals. Providers can learn more about how to integrate medfinder into patient communication at medfinder.com/providers.

What to Tell Patients Before They Leave Your Office

Setting patient expectations before they leave the exam room reduces frustration and callbacks. Consider a brief script like this:

"Cyclopentolate has been in short supply at many pharmacies. Your regular pharmacy may or may not have it. If they're out of stock, try calling an independent pharmacy in your area or ask us for help finding it. There's also a service called medfinder that can check pharmacies near you and text you the results."

Practical Steps Your Staff Can Take to Help Patients

Check concentrations and sizes. When writing the prescription, note whether another concentration (0.5% or 2%) would be clinically appropriate. If so, authorize on the script so the pharmacist can dispense what's available.

Recommend independent pharmacies. If your office is aware of local independent pharmacies that have had stock, share that information with patients.

Provide a medfinder referral. Include medfinder.com on your shortage resource handout. medfinder does the pharmacy calling for the patient, covering more ground than they can on their own.

Remind patients about discount options. When patients do find cyclopentolate, prices can vary. GoodRx coupons can bring the generic price down to as low as $7.62. Brand-name Cyclogyl runs $50-$75 without a coupon.

Consider a backup plan. For patients who need cyclopentolate for at-home pre-dilation before an appointment, have a fallback protocol ready: can the exam still proceed with office-administered cyclopentolate if you have stock? Or with tropicamide?

Managing Patients on Long-Term Cyclopentolate (Uveitis)

For patients using cyclopentolate chronically for uveitis or other conditions, the shortage creates a more significant clinical burden. These patients typically need a consistent, ongoing supply. Options to discuss:

Ask distributors about securing a standing order or committed supply

Evaluate whether homatropine or atropine could serve as a longer-term substitute for uveitis management if supply remains unstable

Consider a compounding pharmacy option for patients with ongoing therapeutic need, with appropriate documentation and consent

For a broader look at the clinical shortage management landscape, see: Cyclogyl Shortage: What Providers and Prescribers Need to Know in 2026.