Hahahaha! Merck keeps switching the shortage from one country to another. The letter Paula posted says shortage in USA - but shortage ended in Britain! Remember when Merck listed the countries - they said no shortage in USA but Britain would have a long shortage
then Parkies hassled the UK government and it was dicussed in the House of Commons - and shortage is gone... but it showed up in the USA
In Spain, Merck diverted pills from one country to another; production in Spain started up within three days after Parkies demanded jail terms for the perps
No danger for USA - enough pills floating around at top dollar... but just the way Merck handles the secrecy about a drug that exists only because of us - just what exactly do they think they own?

Sinemet 'returns to full production'

Healthcare News
18/01/2011
Manufacture of Parkinson's drug Sinemet has returned to pre-shortage levels, giving hope to those with the disease.

The production of Parkinson's drug Sinemet will return to full supply in 2011, after a shortage of the treatment during the past year.

MSD UK has announced they are now back up to full speed, supplying at the same level they were before the shortage.

However, they have said that increased demand could be a problem as back-orders and extra subscriptions are completed.

Val Buxton, director of policy, campaigns and information at Parkinson's UK said that the inconvenience and stress caused by the Sinemet shortage made for a difficult 2010 for many with the disease.

"We hope that those affected can now look ahead to 2011 and no longer worry about availability of essential medication," she added.

This comes after researchers from the Netherlands recommended in the Lancet that doctors should ask patients whether they were still able to ride a bicycle when diagnosing whether they had atypical or standard Parkinson's disease.
http://www.barchester.com/Healthcare...on%27/376/4034