The medications typically in short supply are generally low cost drugs such as morphine sulfate, zofran, compazine, reglan, ativan and valium.. The shortages often involve injectable drugs which are more technically difficult to manufacture than oral medications.

FORBES: Drug Shortages Compromise Emergency Medical Care

It contained a dose of morphine for breakthrough pain or shortness of breath, Ativan for anxiety attacks, Compazine for nausea, Haldol for delirium, Tylenol for fever, and atropine for drying up the upper-airway rattle that people can get in their final hours.

NEWYORKER: Letting Go

Detective Orlando Martinez of the Los Angeles Police Department detailed what Murray told detectives he gave Jackson on the final day of his life, which included the sedative Valium (diazepam), the anti-anxiety drug Ativan (lorazepam), the sedative Versed (midazolam), and 25 mg of propofol.

CNN: Drugs that killed Jackson for clinical use only, experts say