Toilet paper isn’t the only necessity Canadians are stockpiling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the country’s largest pharmacy chains are reporting a surge in refill requests — not just for one or two months, but up to six months’ worth of medications.

Andrew Forgione, a spokesperson for Rexall Canada’s parent company, said unlike toilet paper, prescription stockpiling could lead to temporary shortages, and pharmacists are being asked to discourage this behaviour.

For some patients, such as David Miller, that’s unsettling news. Miller, who lives in Bowmanville, has about six weeks left of insulin before he runs out.

Miller, who has Type 1 diabetes, said he has a routine for his refills: when he’s down to one vial, he calls his pharmacy and picks up six more the next day. One vial lasts just over two weeks, he said. The pharmacy, a Shoppers Drug Mart, always has it in stock, he said.

But when he called on March 15, the pharmacy was out of his insulin, Humalog. They told him it was on back order and couldn’t be sure when they would restock it.

Miller called several pharmacies that evening before he found one that had two vials left. He picked them up the next day.

While Miller’s pharmacy didn’t say the shortage was due to COVID stockpiling, the timing made him wonder.

“They always have supplies. I never have to worry about it,” he said. “So yeah, I was perplexed as to why all of a sudden they were out of stock and they couldn’t answer questions.”

Lilly, the company that manufactures Humalog, issued a statement on its website reassuring patients that it is not anticipating supply disruptions “at this time.” It asks patients who are having difficulty finding the drug to call the company directly.

Jenee Zammit of Oakville faced a similar dilemma when she tried to fill an amoxicillin prescription for her nine-year-old son, who was suffering from an ear infection.

The pharmacy was out of the liquid form for children, Zammit said — it was on back order. They had to get the pills instead, and the wait was more than an hour.

Zammit said the pharmacists told her they were getting a lot of requests for refills, and were having a hard time keeping up.

Forgione said while pharmacists don’t have the power to deny a patient their prescription, they are hopeful that offers of free home delivery on a regular schedule will reassure the public.

For some, the fact that their insurance providers will only cover a certain amount is enough of a deterrent, he said. Others don’t mind paying out of pocket for an extra couple of months worth.

Kim Armstrong, a spokesperson for insurance provider Sun Life, said anyone trying to stockpile medications covered by their plan would have to pay out-of-pocket over a certain amount. The amount depends on the medication and the plan, she said.

Chris Chiew, general manager of pharmacy for London Drugs, said the company’s pharmacies are in a similar position. He said they are doing their best to calm clients’ fears.

“We’re trying to manage it accordingly, just so that everybody can actually make sure that they get their medication,” he said.

Chiew said anyone worried about coming into a pharmacy should take advantage of online and delivery options.

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In an emailed statement March 19, the Alberta government said it recommends that pharmacies have the discretion to provide a maximum 30-day supply of prescription drugs.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in drug shortages due to global demand. To ensure Albertans can access the medications they need, the Alberta College of Pharmacy supports measures that will reduce the likelihood of drug shortages by limiting prescription quantities to 30 days. This will assist in stabilizing our drug supply,” Greg Eberhart, the college’s registrar, said in the statement.

Pharmacy orders in several other provinces have made similar recommendations.