Why Is Vazalore So Hard to Find? [Explained for 2026]

If you've walked into CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart recently looking for Vazalore and come up empty-handed, you're not alone. This innovative liquid-filled aspirin capsule has become notoriously difficult to find at retail pharmacies across the United States. Patients who rely on it for daily cardiovascular protection often find themselves calling multiple pharmacies, checking online, and still coming up short.

So what's going on? Why is Vazalore — an over-the-counter product from a well-known drug delivery platform — so hard to get your hands on? In this post, we break down the real reasons and walk you through your best options.

What Is Vazalore, and Why Do People Use It?

Vazalore is the first and only liquid-filled aspirin capsule on the market. FDA-approved in March 2021, it was developed by PLx Pharma using their proprietary PLxGuard technology — a phospholipid-aspirin complex that delivers aspirin in the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) rather than the stomach. This design is meant to dramatically reduce the direct stomach irritation that causes ulcers, bleeding, and heartburn in people who take daily aspirin.

Clinical studies showed that Vazalore was absorbed faster than enteric-coated aspirin and offered equivalent antiplatelet (clot-preventing) effects to immediate-release aspirin. For the millions of Americans who take low-dose aspirin daily to prevent a second heart attack or stroke, this combination of stomach protection and reliable absorption made Vazalore an appealing upgrade.

Vazalore comes in two doses: 81 mg (low-dose, for cardiovascular protection) and 325 mg (regular strength, for pain and fever as well). While it's technically an OTC product, it's pricier than generic aspirin — about $25–$45 for a 30-count box versus just a few dollars for 100 tablets of generic enteric-coated aspirin.

Why Is Vazalore Out of Stock So Often?

Several factors have contributed to Vazalore's ongoing availability problems:

1. The Manufacturer Filed for Bankruptcy in 2023

In April 2023, PLx Pharma — the company behind Vazalore — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and entered into an asset purchase agreement with Greenwood Brands, LLC. While the brand survived the transition, the manufacturing and distribution disruption that comes with a corporate restructuring inevitably affected supply chains. Production and distribution were scaled back during this period, which hit pharmacy shelves hard.

2. High Demand Outpaced Manufacturing Capacity

Word-of-mouth adoption of Vazalore grew much faster than the manufacturer anticipated. Cardiologists and primary care physicians began actively recommending it to patients on daily aspirin therapy who had a history of GI problems. As the patient base expanded, demand exceeded what the specialized production process could keep up with. Making liquid-filled aspirin capsules is technically more complex than producing a standard tablet — meaning scaling production takes time and investment.

3. No Generic Equivalent Exists

Unlike most branded drugs, Vazalore has no generic alternative. The liquid-filled capsule format using PLxGuard's phospholipid technology is patented. That means when Vazalore runs out at a pharmacy, you can't just swap it for a generic version of the same formulation — you're stuck waiting or switching to a different aspirin format altogether. This lack of generic competition compounds supply issues.

4. Variable Distribution by Region

As of 2026, Vazalore's availability is highly inconsistent by geography. Some major metro areas consistently stock it; others may not receive shipments for months. Online retailers like Amazon occasionally have it, though prices can be inflated when supplies are tight. The FDA has not listed Vazalore on its official drug shortage database, suggesting the issue is logistical rather than a declared clinical shortage — but that's cold comfort if your local pharmacy is out.

Is Vazalore Still Available in 2026?

Yes — Vazalore is still being manufactured and sold as of 2026, now under Greenwood Brands. The 81 mg dose tends to be more consistently available than the 325 mg strength. Stock varies significantly by location and retailer. While you may not find it at every pharmacy on every visit, dedicated searching — or using a service that calls pharmacies on your behalf — can often turn it up.

What Should You Do If You Can't Find Vazalore?

Here are your practical options when Vazalore is out of stock:

Call multiple pharmacies. Stock varies widely between locations of the same chain. Don't assume that CVS on one block is the same as CVS two miles away.

Try online retailers. Amazon, Walmart.com, and Target.com frequently have Vazalore in stock even when local stores do not. Compare prices before buying.

Ask your pharmacist about ordering it. Many independent pharmacies can place a special order for Vazalore if it's not currently on the shelf.

Use medfinder. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check which ones have Vazalore in stock and can fill your needs. Just provide your medication and location, and medfinder does the legwork.

Talk to your doctor about alternatives. If Vazalore remains unavailable, your doctor may recommend enteric-coated aspirin (like Ecotrin) or another antiplatelet agent.

Should You Switch to a Different Aspirin?

If you can't find Vazalore, don't just stop taking aspirin without talking to your doctor — especially if you're on it for secondary prevention of heart attack or stroke. Your doctor may advise switching temporarily to enteric-coated aspirin (Ecotrin or generic), which still provides stomach protection but with slower, less reliable absorption. For most patients on stable aspirin therapy, this is a reasonable short-term solution.

Read more about your options in our companion post: Alternatives to Vazalore If You Can't Fill Your Prescription.

The Bottom Line

Vazalore is hard to find because of a perfect storm: a manufacturer bankruptcy and transition, complex specialized production, high demand, and no generic backup. But it's not gone — it's just inconsistently stocked. The best strategy is to search across multiple pharmacy locations, buy in bulk when you do find it, and use pharmacy-calling services like medfinder to take the search off your plate. Check out our guide on how to find Vazalore in stock near you for more tactics.