Does it need an internet connection?

Yes — it reads a live source, so it needs a connection to update.

Yes — free, no download, in your browser.

What does discontinuation mean here?

It means a manufacturer has stopped making a product. Other manufacturers may still make the same medicine, so it does not always lead to a shortage.

Does this list every shortage?

No. It shows what the FDA has recorded, based mostly on information from manufacturers, so some local or short-lived supply problems may not appear.

Why does the same drug appear with different companies?

Several companies can make the same medicine, and records are kept at the company and product level, so each one can appear separately.

FDA Drug Shortages Screensaver

The FDA Drug Shortages screensaver shows real current drug-shortage and discontinuation records from the FDA's key-less openFDA API — the medicine, the manufacturer and its supply status. It's free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.

How the FDA Drug Shortages screensaver works

The saver reads openFDA directly in your browser — no key and no account.

Real current drug-shortage and discontinuation records from the FDA's key-less openFDA API — the medicine, the manufacturer and its supply status..

It refreshes on a schedule, so what you see stays current.

Colours and the accent can be changed in settings; nothing is stored beyond your own browser.

How the FDA tracks drug shortages

The US Food and Drug Administration keeps a Drug Shortage Database covering current and resolved shortages and discontinuations. Manufacturers provide the FDA with most of the shortage information, and the agency works with them to prevent or reduce the impact of shortages. Shortages can stem from manufacturing and quality problems, delays and discontinuations.

The data are available through openFDA, the agency’s programmatic interface, which converts the records to JSON, adds annotations and updates daily. The endpoint covers data from 2012 onward. A record names the drug, the company and a status; “current” means the FDA is aware of the supply problem and is working with manufacturers to mitigate it.

Two points help in reading it. A listing is the FDA’s own record, so it is not necessarily a complete list of everything a pharmacy might be out of. And a company-level record can describe one manufacturer’s product while other makers supply the same medicine. openFDA states that the data are not meant for medical decisions, so anyone with questions about a particular medication should speak with a health provider.

A worked example

Real current drug-shortage and discontinuation records from the FDA's key-less openFDA API — the medicine, the manufacturer and its supply status.

Settings & tips

Accent and Background recolour the display.
Data comes straight from openFDA in your browser.
Press ESC to leave fullscreen.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real data?: Yes — it comes from openFDA and is refreshed on a schedule.
Is a key needed?: No. This source is fully key-less.
Does it need an internet connection?: Yes — it reads a live source, so it needs a connection to update.
Is it free?: Yes — free, no download, in your browser.
What does discontinuation mean here?: It means a manufacturer has stopped making a product. Other manufacturers may still make the same medicine, so it does not always lead to a shortage.
Does this list every shortage?: No. It shows what the FDA has recorded, based mostly on information from manufacturers, so some local or short-lived supply problems may not appear.
Why does the same drug appear with different companies?: Several companies can make the same medicine, and records are kept at the company and product level, so each one can appear separately.

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