INDIANAPOLIS -- Hospitals in Indianapolis and across the country are dealing with critical shortages of key medications.

The Food and Drug Administration's drug shortage list includes 41 hospital-based medications, including dextrose 50 percent injections, used to raised a patient's blood sugar; calcium chloride, used in code blue emergencies; and epinephrine, a common medication used to treat allergic reactions.

Federal regulators blame the short supply on increased demand and manufacturing delays, 6News' Stacia Matthews reported.

At Methodist Hospital, a typical day brings in 100 patients by ambulance and double that many in the emergency room.

"It seems like every other month you see another drug shortage and supply running out," said clinical pharmacist Bob Adler. "It's interesting and kind of challenging for health care workers."

Adler said his team gets frequent updates from the hospital's drug information center, and said the ER has a backup plan in place to use alternative medicines to make sure drugs are available when lives hang in the balance.

"We try to keep some standard concentrations and protocol. We have drugs shipped in from places that will make them for us or figure out exactly what patients need them," Adler said.

Methodist officials said the hospital has enough drugs in its reserve to last until the end of the month, when many of the drug companies said they will be back to full production.

Paramedics with the Indianapolis Fire Department have also been put on notice of the drug shortages, but officials said their emergency runs have not been affected.

The shortage does not include the epinephrine in prescription EpiPens.

More Information: FDA Drug Shortages