epocrates

Patient and clinician frustrations escalate as ADHD drug shortage continues

February 12, 2024

In October 2022, the FDA announced a shortage of Adderall. Since then, clinicians report that other ADHD medications, such as Focalin, Ritalin, and Vyvanse have become in short supply. 

The shortage affects generic medications as well as brand drugs: FDA's drug shortage records show that since October 2022 there's been a shortage of amphetamine mixed salts—one of the most commonly prescribed stimulants to treat ADHD.

Although drugmakers have published estimates of when the medications will be back in stock, as they struggle to keep up with demand, those estimates have been pushed back.

Unprecedented high demand for the drugs, coupled with drugmakers' claim that they're being restricted in how much they can make due to Drug Enforcement Administration controlled substance caps, has fueled a nationwide shortage, experts say. In response to the shortages and surging demand, the DEA has been questioned by lawmakers over the caps it has set on production of ADHD treatments; last November the agency said it would change the process to cut down on unused quotas.

The FDA says that other factors contributing to the shortage include increased prescribing, possibly due to the expansion of telemedicine; supply chain, manufacturing, and quality issues; and the business decisions of manufacturers.

Prescriptions for ADHD medications have increased in the U.S. and globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA estimates that medical use of amphetamine, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine to treat ADHD and other diagnoses in the U.S. will climb 3.1% in 2024.

Sources:

Lovelace Jr, Berkeley. (2024, February 6). NBC News. 'I'm fed up': Frustrations grow as shortage continues. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/adhd-drug-shortage-adderall-ritalin-focalin-vyvanse-rcna137356

Tin, Alexander. (2024, February 8). CBS News. Why is there an ADHD medication shortage in 2024? What's making generics of Vyvanse, Adderall and more so scarce?