THE HOLIDAYS IN TIMES SQUARE. WELCOME BACK TO "GMA," EVERYBODY. RIGHT TO OUR "GMA" COVER STORY. IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE MUCH THE GROWING CONCERN OVER DRUG SHORTAGES FROM ANTIBIOTICS TO OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS FOR PAIN, COLD AND FLU. MANY PHARMACIES SAY THEY CAN'T MEET THE DEMAND AND STEPHANIE RAMOS IS HERE WITH MORE ON THIS. GOOD MORNING, STEPHANIE. >> Reporter: GOOD MORNING. THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS HERE AND SO ARE WINTER ILLNESSES LIKE THE COMMON COLD AND SEASONAL FLU AND THE KIDS ARE FEELING IT THE MOST WITH PARENTS IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY FINDING IT HART TO FIND MEDICATIONS FOR EAR INFECTIONS, THE FLU AND SORE THROATS. BARE SHELVES IN SOME MEDICATION AISLES ARE CONCERNING PARENTS SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS AS DEMAND FOR MEDICATION IS SURGING. KGO LOOKING FOR CHILDREN'S TILE NO -- TYLENOL AT THREE STORES COMING UP MOSTLY EMPTY. PARENTS MAY NEED TO WAIT FOR A RESTOCK OR SHOP ELSEWHERE ACCORDING TO THE FTA, NATIONWIDE THERE IS AN AMOXICILLIN SHORTAGE, A PRESCRIPTION ANTIBIOTIC. >> SHE HAD A REALLY BAD COUGH AND REALLY BAD CONGESTION. >> Reporter: COLORADO MOM ASHLYN WAS PRESCRIBED AMOXICILLIN FOR HER DAUGHTER'S EAR INFECTION. SHE SAYS HER DOCTOR WARNED HER IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIND. >> I WAS JUST RUNNING DOWN THE LINE, NOPE, WE DON'T HAVE IT. NOPE, WE DON'T HAVE IT. >> Reporter: IN ALL SHE SAYS SHE TRIED 18 PHARMACIES BEFORE FINDING ONE THAT COULD FILL HER PRESCRIPTION. >> I WAS RELIEVED JUST TO HEAR THOSE WORDS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IT IN STOCK. ONCE I GOT THERE AND HAD IT IN HAND IT WAS JUST LIKE A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF AND I ACTUALLY GAVE HER A DOSE OF MEDICINE RIGHT IN THE CAR. >> Reporter: ORAL AMOXICILLIN IS THE MOST COMMON ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBED IN THE OFFICE SETTING. USED TO TREAT MANY KINDS OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN. SOMETIMES INCLUDING EAR AND LUNG INFECTIONS. IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION, ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR A WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION INSTEAD OF SUBMITTING IT ELECTRONICALLY. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK BIG BOX RETAILERS WHICH OFTEN ALLOW NONMEMBERS TO USE THEIR PHARMACIES AND EXPERTS SAY TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR A DIFFERENT FORMULA OR DOSAGE THAT IS LESS IN DEMAND. NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO AMOXICILLIN, EXPERTS ALSO SUGGEST ASKING YOUR DOCTOR FOR ALTERNATE OPTIONS LIKE CHEWABLE TABLETS OR DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND WHILE THERE IS NO OFFICIAL SHORTAGE OF SOME OF THE OTHER DRUGS LIKE CHILDREN'S TYLENOL, JOHNSON & JOHNSON WHO MAKES IT TELLS ABC THERE'S BEEN HIGH DEMAND AND THEY ARE, QUOTE, DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE PRODUCTS THEY