A practical guide for providers on helping patients access Igalmi in 2026. Five actionable steps, alternatives, and workflow tips for clinical teams.
As a healthcare provider treating acute agitation, you know that medication access can be just as important as the clinical decision itself. Igalmi (Dexmedetomidine sublingual film) offers a non-injectable option for managing agitation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder — but finding it in stock can be a challenge.
This guide outlines practical steps you can take to help your patients access Igalmi in 2026.
Igalmi is not in an FDA-listed shortage as of 2026, but real-world availability is limited by several factors:
Understanding the barriers your patients face helps you address them more effectively:
Unlike medications patients fill at their local pharmacy, Igalmi requires healthcare provider supervision for administration. Patients can't walk into a Walgreens or CVS and pick it up. This creates a fundamental access gap — patients need to find a facility that stocks it, not just a pharmacy.
Many hospital P&T committees have been slow to add Igalmi. Facilities with established agitation protocols using Haloperidol, Olanzapine, or Lorazepam may see Igalmi as an incremental addition rather than a necessity, especially given its cost.
Larger academic medical centers and urban psychiatric facilities are more likely to stock Igalmi than rural hospitals or community mental health centers. This creates geographic access disparities that disproportionately affect patients in underserved areas.
Medfinder.com/providers is designed specifically for healthcare professionals looking to locate hard-to-find medications. You can:
The manufacturer offers dedicated support for providers:
They can help identify distributors and facilities with current stock, and may provide clinical education materials for your team.
If your facility doesn't carry Igalmi, consider presenting a case to your P&T committee. Key talking points include:
Build referral relationships with nearby facilities that carry Igalmi. In acute agitation situations, having a pre-established pathway for patient transfer or medication access can be critical. Consider:
Ensure your nursing staff, emergency medicine colleagues, and psychiatric team members are familiar with:
When Igalmi can't be obtained, maintain evidence-based agitation protocols using:
For a detailed clinical comparison, see our article on alternatives to Igalmi.
Integrate Igalmi access into your existing workflows:
Igalmi fills an important gap in the acute agitation treatment toolkit, but access barriers remain a practical challenge in 2026. By leveraging tools like Medfinder for Providers, advocating for formulary inclusion, and maintaining robust alternative protocols, you can ensure your patients receive the best possible care regardless of Igalmi's availability at your specific facility.
Related provider resources:
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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