ADHD drug shortage shows signs of letting up, but some patients still struggle
Many of the ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) medication shortages that have plagued the U.S. for the last two years have now been resolved, the Food and Drug Administration says. Yet some doctors and patients report they are still struggling to get prescriptions filled.
Dr. Royce Lee, a psychiatrist at the University of Chicago Medicine, said supply has gotten better but it’s still an issue for about a third of the patients he writes prescriptions for. This often means he still has to call around to pharmacies to see if they have the medications in stock, switch patients to different drugs, and deal with insurance companies to confirm coverage.
“I do see signs of the shortages easing up,” Lee said. “But there are still enough shortages that every day we’re having to put in a little bit of work for prescriptions that need to be changed or hunted down.” “I think a lot of people are still not getting their treatments,” he added.
A total of nine manufacturers now have ADHD medications back in stock, according to the FDA’s drug shortage database, up from six last September.
Teva Pharmaceuticals, a major manufacturer of ADHD medications, has resolved all of its shortages after certain doses were unavailable for several months, according to the agency’s database. A 5-milligram dose of one of its medications remains in limited supply, however.
SpecGx, which manufactures a generic version of the ADHD medication Vyvanse, has all dosages of its drugs back in stock after most were on back order last year.
Aurobindo Pharma, which makes a generic version of Adderall, still estimates that it will have the medication back in stock in September after pushing back its earlier estimate of December.
Many of the manufacturers note that there is still unprecedented demand for the drugs, which could strain supply.
An FDA spokesperson said the agency expects additional supply will be returning in the coming months after a new manufacturer, US Pharma Windlas, recently began distributing doses.
About 6 million children and teens have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in kids. Millions of adults are estimated to have it as well, and some may not know it.
Despite the supply improvements, some patients say they are still having trouble getting their medications.
May 20, 2024
