TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — A visit to the pharmacy may end with disappointment due to an ongoing medicine shortage.

In the United States, the common antibiotic, Amoxicillin is going through a shortage. Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infection such as pneumonia.

Family Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Nursing Professor at Troy University, Teresa Law says there are multiple reasons for the shortage.

“Transit line issues, so getting product to the facilities for distribution, and an increase in prescriber use,” Law said.

According to Law, the most important thing to do during a shortage is to not panic.

For people that are in need of Amoxicillin and can’t get it, there are alternatives that can be used and are available for access.

“A lot of these illnesses that we treat with Amoxicillin can be treated with other classifications of antibiotics, Azithromycin, and some others can be available to treat those same illnesses,” Law said.

Law also encourages people to stay healthy, so the need for Amoxicillin goes down.

“If we can encourage health, encourage healthy immune systems, so we can avoid the need for antibiotics and as that need subsides, then the shortage will no longer be an issue,” Law said.

The last time Amoxicillin went through a shortage was in 2022.