COVID-19 Led to Spike in Blood Thinners, Cardiovascular Drugs, New Data Shows

Demand for cardiovascular and blood-thinning drugs has soared as COVID-19 cases have peaked, according to data from Premier, a healthcare improvement company.

Premier said that, according to its purchasing data, demand for the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone went up 66 percent in the first quarter compared to the same time last year. In areas where the coronavirus is prevalent, such as New York, demand for the drug soared 152 percent, more than twice the national average.

The data also show increases in demand for norepinephrine and vasopressin, two drugs critical for managing septic shock. Orders for those medications increased by 122 percent and 66 percent, respectively. In New York, norepinephrine orders skyrocketed by 421 percent, while vasopressin orders rose by 121 percent.