Pill shortage means needles for some Albertans with STIs

An antibiotic pill used for sexually transmitted infections won't be available in Alberta for at least another year because of a national drug shortage.

The pill Cefixime, used to treat gonorrhea and chlamydia, is on back order across the country, said Alberta’s deputy chief medical officer of health Dr. Martin Lavoie. 

So instead of just getting a pill, patients need to be treated with an injection.

Lavoie said she’s concerned that could discourage some people from getting their STIs looked after.

“Some people don't like needles. And we see this as a potential risk of some people not getting the treatment they should,” he said.

Lavoie says Alberta has dubious distinction of having the highest STI rates in Canada and he hopes the year-long drug shortage won’t push the numbers even higher.

The needle came as an unpleasant surprise to one 25-year-old man on his recent visit to an STI clinic in downtown Calgary.

“The trend with that clinic in particular is that it’s getting less and less invasive, as far as the test goes. It’s almost getting a little less nerve-racking,” said the man. CBC agreed not to name him.

“[I] was given as an intramuscular injection in my hip, which wasn't very comfortable," he said. “The nurse was awesome, very accommodating, very nice. She apologized profusely.”