ADHD patients may experience a drug shortage of Adderall as some pharmacies across the U.S. are having difficulties securing the prescription drug attributable to supply chain issues.
Adderall is a commonly used medication for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). CVS Health and Walgreens have had to inform patients that Adderall was out of stock with wait times of greater than every week, in response to a report from Bloomberg.
Walgreens confirmed the Adderall supply disruption, with company spokesperson Rebekah Pajak telling the news outlet, “There are supply chain challenges with this drug. The problems are affecting each instant-release and extended-release Adderall.”
CVS spokesperson Matthew Blanchette also said, “usually,” it’s capable of fill Adderall prescriptions.
The provision chain problems for Adderall are being seen by drugmakers Teva Pharmaceutical, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Rhodes Pharmaceuticals, and Novartis, which have had the drug on back order, in response to the report.
The necessity for Adderall has accelerated through the COVID pandemic as more patients are receiving the drug, which was prescribed more incessantly attributable to telehealth appointments. While more patients have received Adderall for ADHD diagnosis, the drug itself has been scrutinized over “aggressive prescribing practices,” Bloomberg said.
Despite reports that Adderall is in brief supply, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not added it to its official list of drug shortages, saying on its website it reports shortages when “it has confirmed that overall market demand shouldn’t be being met by the manufacturers of the product.”
The FDA suggests patients proceed to look at its website for updates or contact the drug manufacturers directly for more information, agency spokesperson Cherie Duvall-Jones said within the report.
Because Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance, patients are prevented from picking up greater than a month’s supply at one time attributable to its potential for abuse. Some patients told Bloomberg they need to call around to several pharmacies to search out one which has Adderall in stock, and a few have considered buying the drug illegally.
A survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association said that 64% of pharmacies are struggling to secure a supply of Adderall.