Scopolamine Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you've been prescribed scopolamine patches and can't find them at your pharmacy, you're experiencing the effects of a documented drug shortage. As of early 2026, scopolamine transdermal patches are on the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) shortage list — a situation driven by a combination of manufacturer exits, production challenges, and a critical FDA safety update issued in June 2025. Here's everything patients need to know.

What Does the ASHP Shortage List Mean for Patients?

When ASHP formally lists a drug as in shortage, it means healthcare system pharmacists have confirmed that at least one commercially available product is not available in sufficient quantities to meet demand. ASHP listing doesn't mean the drug is completely unavailable everywhere — it means supply is significantly constrained and patients and providers should expect difficulty obtaining it.

Which Scopolamine Products Are Affected?

The shortage specifically involves scopolamine transdermal patches (1 mg/3 days). Here is the current status by manufacturer as of early 2026:

Padagis: Discontinued scopolamine transdermal patches entirely in October 2025.

Teva: Has 10-count and 24-count packages on back order; estimated release date was early March 2026. Teva did not provide a public reason for the shortage.

Rhodes: Has patches available (4-count, 10-count, and 24-count packages).

Viatris (Mylan): Has patches available in both 4-count and 24-count packages.

Zydus: Has patches available in 4-count, 10-count, and 24-count packages.

Baxter (Brand Transderm Scop): Available in 10-count and 24-count packages.

The problem for patients is that even though multiple manufacturers list their products as "available," individual pharmacies typically only source from one or two distributors. If your pharmacy's supplier is one of the affected manufacturers, they may have no scopolamine at all — even while another supplier has ample stock.

What Caused the 2025–2026 Scopolamine Shortage?

Several factors converged to create the current shortage:

Manufacturer exits. Padagis's October 2025 discontinuation removed one of the key suppliers from the market without warning. When a manufacturer exits, the remaining suppliers can't instantly ramp up production to fill the gap.

The FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication in June 2025 warning about serious hyperthermia (dangerously elevated body temperature) with scopolamine patches — particularly in children under 17 and adults over 60. This added regulatory and market uncertainty.

Long-standing supply fragility. Scopolamine has experienced multiple documented shortages since at least 2018. The market is small relative to major drug categories, making it economically unattractive for manufacturers, which means fewer redundant suppliers.

The June 2025 FDA Safety Warning

On June 18, 2025, the FDA issued an important Drug Safety Communication for scopolamine transdermal patches. The warning concerned cases of hyperthermia — dangerous increases in body temperature — linked to the patch. Cases included hospitalization and death. Most occurred in children under 17 or adults over 60, who are more susceptible to the drug's effect on temperature regulation.

If you're using a scopolamine patch, the FDA recommends: avoid use of external heating devices (heating pads, heated blankets), remove the patch immediately if you experience increased body temperature or decreased sweating, and be particularly vigilant in hot environments. Symptoms can continue after the patch has been removed due to residual drug remaining in skin layers.

What Should Patients Do Right Now?

Here are concrete steps to take if you need scopolamine patches:

Check multiple pharmacies. Use medfinder or call chain and independent pharmacies in your area. Ask specifically which manufacturer's product they carry.

Ask about different manufacturer versions. All FDA-approved generics (Rhodes, Viatris, Zydus) are therapeutically equivalent. If your pharmacy only carries Teva and Teva is backordered, ask if they can source from a different manufacturer.

Plan ahead. Request prescriptions 3–4 weeks before you need them. Don't wait until the week before your cruise or surgery.

Talk to your doctor about alternatives. If patches are unavailable, meclizine, dimenhydrinate, or promethazine may be appropriate substitutes depending on your situation.

medfinder Can Help You Find Scopolamine

Instead of spending hours calling pharmacy after pharmacy, let medfinder do it for you. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check which ones have your medication in stock, then texts you the results. It's the fastest way to find scopolamine during a shortage.

For more background on why scopolamine is in short supply, read our detailed explainer: Why Is Scopolamine So Hard to Find? [Explained for 2026]