Quick update: My sister still has not been able to start using the Apoquel. The vet says it's on back-order and has no idea when she will get it.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Quick update: My sister still has not been able to start using the Apoquel. The vet says it's on back-order and has no idea when she will get it.

Yep!! And a lot of people and vets are really upset with this company. They made a big deal out of the introduction of this drug, and then within only 2 months announced it was on backorder until August!!

So now the derma vets who have patients on this drug already are having to ration it out and try to make what they have last for months. We can only get 2 weeks at a time, and have to drive an hour round trip to get it. Our vet is really hoping they can hang on until August. If not, and some of the dogs have to go without, that means starting over again at the more expensive 2 pills a day for the first 2 weeks rate, before getting to go back to the one pill a day dosing.

They can not start a new dog on this drug until the company catches up with the backorders.

Thanks for this thread. I have been wondering about Apoquel and deciding whether or not to contact my derm vet about it. This has been very helpful!

Jessica, would you post back what results you have (I mean in just getting the med)?

I too am on a long list because of lack of product.

Talk about frustration .....

Just last week I had Logan to a busy derm practice in my area (southeastern Michigan), not for allergies but for a suspicious growth (benign, thank goodness), but just in conversation with the vet, I asked about Apoquel and whether they could get it. Basically, they are getting a very limited supply right now, just enough to keep their current patients taking it (for a while, anyway) but no word on when they will have enough to prescribe for new patients. The vet sounded frustrated, too.

Connie, I called my derm vet and they told me they were given a very limited supply and have no idea when they are getting more due to the shortage. Since my dog isn't on it now, I am going to continue w/ my allergy drops and holistic stuff and keep checking back. If my holistic action isn't working by then, I will try Apoquel. One of my friend's who works at a vet said she heard the shortage is until August, so if true, it could be a while.

My vet also said that they have seen pretty good results with the dogs on Apoquel so far, with fewer side effects than Atopica and lower cost, so clients have been pretty happy. They said they are doing the bloodwork checks for Apoquel as well.

My vet wasn't too sure about this medication. Apparently the drug trials for it resulted in a number of dogs developing cancer. Of course every thing that happens during a trial has to be listed as a possible side effect but they were concerned by the number that developed cancer.

I've read every trial I found. Any chance you could post a link to this one?

Thanks!

I've studied every trial report and watched all the scientific presentations on video. (I was kinda obsessed with learning about this drug for several weeks.) I don't recall any cancer connection. It is a new drug for vet use. But Jax-1 inhibitors have been around in human medicine for a while. So it's not entirely unproven. I am convinced it's safe. And I can certainly attest to its miraculous efficacy for my allergy dog. But everyone has to weigh the risk/benefit for themselves with any medical decision.

As many of you have found out, the manufacturer of Apoquel (Zoetis Pharmaceuticals) is having a hard time fulfilling orders in the U.S., which is a huge disappointment after their hyped launch.

New vets are being told they will get none until 2015. Vets who have already prescribed it are getting small batches to try to keep patients already on the drug going--but even that is sketchy.

My dog, Cinco, has been having wonderful success with the medicine, but it's now been on "backorder" for the last week, and no idea when our derm vet will get more. I the meantime, I have an itchy dog again. I have become my derm vet's most annoying client, I'm sure (they've even changed their answering machine greeting "if you're calling about Apoquel, we will call you when it comes in...")

BUT HERE'S SOME NEWS YOU CAN USE.

The drug is NOT in short supply in the UK. Which makes me think this is more of an FDA thing than a manufacturing issue. At any rate, it is for sale in the UK and there are UK-based online vet pharmacies that are selling and shipping Apoquel to the US. Which is perfectly legal. Exact same medicine from the same (only) manufacturer, same dosages. Requires a prescription from a US vet, of course, which they will accept by email or fax. My derm vet just gave me a prescription and it's off to England, order placed, confirmed by phone that they have the med in stock. I expect to get it by mail in a few days.