More than a year after the Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide shortage of Adderall, doctors and patients continue to face difficulties obtaining ADHD medications. Despite promises from drugmakers that the supply issues would be resolved, shortages persist and frustration is mounting.
Wendy Steele, a 48-year-old resident of Baltimore, has struggled to find pharmacies that stock ADHD medications for both herself and her 9-year-old son, Colton. They rely on generic versions of Adderall and Concerta, respectively. However, they have had to skip, delay, or go without their medications for weeks at a time. Steele believes the shortage is now impacting Colton’s school performance.
ADHD affects over 6 million children and millions of adults in the U.S. The disorder can lead to restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and impulsive behaviors. Medications like Adderall help individuals with ADHD by improving focus and reducing impulsive behavior.
Experts attribute the nationwide shortage to high demand for ADHD drugs and restrictions on drugmakers’ production capabilities. In October 2022, the FDA announced a shortage of Adderall, and since then, other ADHD medications, including Focalin, Ritalin, and Vyvanse, have also become scarce.
There are currently 107 U.S. companies involved in manufacturing ADHD drugs, according to market research company IBISWorld. However, drugmakers’ estimates for when the medications will be back in stock have been repeatedly pushed back due to ongoing demand challenges.
Dr. Lenard Adler, director of the adult ADHD program at NYU Langone Medical Center, reveals that 30% to 40% of his prescriptions for ADHD medications have to be rewritten due to pharmacies not having them in stock. This means patients must obtain new prescriptions as transfers between pharmacies are not permitted.
The shortage has become burdensome for ADHD patients, creating significant challenges for them. Dr. Adler describes the difficulty of finding alternative medicines and the potential increase in cost for patients who cannot access generic versions.
Drugmakers and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have differing explanations for the problem. Drug manufacturers claim they lack the necessary ingredients and need the DEA’s permission to increase production. On the other hand, the DEA claims that drugmakers have not met their production quotas and can produce more drugs if they choose to. Adderall is a controlled substance regulated by the DEA, and drugmakers must obtain approval before exceeding production quotas.
In efforts to address the shortage, the DEA and FDA issued a joint statement urging drugmakers that do not wish to increase production to release their allotments so that others can produce more ADHD medications. Additionally, the FDA approved several generic versions of Vyvanse in August to boost availability.
NBC News reached out to major ADHD drug manufacturers for updates on their supplies, but they did not respond. The DEA also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Experts believe that there are limited short-term solutions the FDA can undertake to alleviate the shortage. Certain formulations of Adderall have become more widely available, but the FDA still lists the drug as being in short supply.
Doctors like Dr. Sarah Cheyette and Dr. David Goodman have experienced ongoing challenges with medication availability for their ADHD patients. Dr. Cheyette notes that even with recently approved generic versions of Vyvanse, the drug remains difficult to find. Dr. Goodman observes that while the brand-name version of Adderall is more readily available, its generic versions are not.
The shortage has caused frustration among patients, who now face longer wait times for their prescriptions. Some insurance companies have started covering the brand-name drug when generic versions are unavailable. However, the ability of individuals with ADHD to manage the situation deteriorates when they are without their medication, exacerbating the impact of the shortage.
Wendy Steele shares her own experience, noting the awful process of calling pharmacies ahead of time and waiting weeks for a prescription to be filled. ADHD medications are controlled substances, and patients can only obtain a prescription for 30 days at a time.
As the shortage continues, patients and medical professionals alike are left grappling with the impact on ADHD treatment and the well-being of those affected. The FDA’s involvement and potential solutions remain uncertain, leaving many hoping for a resolution to the ongoing ADHD drug shortage.
