How to Help Your Patients Find Pred-G in Stock: A Provider's Guide

"My pharmacy doesn't have Pred-G." If you're an ophthalmologist or optometrist, you've heard this complaint. Pred-G (gentamicin/prednisolone ophthalmic suspension) is not in a declared FDA shortage, but it's chronically difficult to find at chain pharmacies — and patients recovering from eye surgery or managing active ocular infections can't wait. This guide gives you the tools and talking points to help your patients access Pred-G quickly, along with clinical alternatives when access truly isn't possible.

Why Patients Struggle to Fill Pred-G

Pred-G's stocking challenges stem from several compounding factors:

• Brand-only product with no widely distributed generic equivalent
• Single manufacturer (Allergan/AbbVie) — no redundant supply chain
• Low prescription volume at retail chains — not prioritized for automatic stocking
• Most chain pharmacies will not stock specialty ophthalmics they turn over fewer than a few times per week

The practical result: most patients with a new Pred-G prescription will need to make at least two calls before finding a pharmacy that has it in stock. For post-operative patients who may have vision impairment, limited mobility, or difficulty navigating a phone-based search, this presents a real barrier.

Step 1: Set Expectations Before the Prescription Is Written

The best intervention happens before the patient leaves your office. When prescribing Pred-G — particularly for scheduled surgeries — mention that it may not be available at large chain pharmacies and that an independent pharmacy or special order may be needed. Give patients 24–48 hours of lead time when possible. For elective procedures, instruct patients to locate the medication before their surgery date.

Step 2: Give Patients a Concrete Pharmacy Locator Resource

Rather than asking patients to call every pharmacy in the area, direct them to a tool that does the work for them. medfinder is a service that contacts pharmacies near a patient's location to find out which ones can fill their specific prescription. Patients enter their medication, dosage, and zip code, and medfinder handles the pharmacy outreach, texting results directly to the patient. For post-surgical patients who may have patched eyes or reduced mobility, this is significantly easier than self-navigating a pharmacy search.

Step 3: Know Your Local Independent Pharmacy Resources

Take the time to identify one or two independent pharmacies in your practice's geographic area that reliably stock or can quickly order Pred-G. Independent pharmacies typically:

• Have more direct relationships with specialty drug wholesalers
• Can place emergency orders that arrive next-day
• Maintain better inventory of low-volume branded ophthalmics

Including the name and phone number of a preferred independent pharmacy on your post-operative instruction sheets can reduce same-day callback volume significantly.

Step 4: Consider an Office Dispensary for Surgical Patients

For surgical practices with high cataract or refractive surgery volume, maintaining a small in-office supply of Pred-G for day-of-surgery dispensing is the most reliable solution. Patients leave your ASC or clinic with their first bottle already in hand, eliminating the pharmacy search entirely for at least the first few days of the post-op protocol.

Contact your Allergan sales representative about sample availability or explore whether in-office dispensing is feasible for your practice model. Regulations on in-office dispensing vary by state, so consult your practice administrator before implementing this approach.

Step 5: Write a Backup Prescription at the Same Encounter

For time-sensitive cases — particularly post-operative patients — consider writing a second prescription for a clinically acceptable alternative at the same encounter. Instruct the patient (or your staff) to fill the alternative only if Pred-G cannot be located within 24 hours. Appropriate alternatives include:

• Generic tobramycin/dexamethasone: Best general-purpose substitute. Widely available, low cost ($28–$55 with coupon), strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory profile.
• Zylet (tobramycin/loteprednol): Preferred for glaucoma-risk patients. Loteprednol's softer steroid profile is safer for extended use.
• Pred Forte 1% + separate antibiotic: If you require the full prednisolone acetate 1% potency, separate prescriptions for Pred Forte (or generic prednisolone acetate 1%) and a topical antibiotic such as tobramycin or fluoroquinolone maintain therapeutic equivalence, albeit with reduced convenience.

Talking Points for Your Discharge Instructions

Consider adding the following language to your written discharge instructions when prescribing Pred-G:

"Important: Pred-G may not be available at large chain pharmacies. If your pharmacy does not have it in stock, please ask them to place a special order (usually 1–3 days), try an independent pharmacy, or call our office before skipping any doses."

Summary

Helping your patients access Pred-G is an extension of good clinical care. Proactive counseling, pharmacy referrals to independents, and a prepared backup prescription eliminate the gaps that lead to missed doses and post-operative complications. See also our overview of what providers need to know about the Pred-G availability situation in 2026.