Ritalin and Adderall may be in Short Supply for the Summer of 2011
Have you experienced problems in filling your prescriptions for your ADHD medications such as Ritalin or Adderall?
Recently the FDA had to add some common ADHD medications to their list of drugs that are in short supply across the country, and many parents are reporting difficulty in finding a pharmacy that can fill their prescriptions.
According to the FDA, there are a number of medications that are on their “short supply” list. Today there are a total of 178 medications in short supply, while in 2005 there were only 61 on the list. Most of the medications on the list are injectable medications, or medications given intravenously. These include “medically necessary” drugs including certain cancer drugs, anesthetics for surgery, certain “crash cart” drugs for emergencies, and other IV medications.
But also on the list are certain drugs taken orally, including some of the drugs used to treat ADHD in both children and adults.
ADHD Medications : Updated Status
As of July 12, 2011, here is the status report:
Of the five companies that distribute Methylphenidate HCI (Ritalin or generic), two are backordered until the end of summer, but three have all strengths of the product in stock.
There are two companies that make Amphetamine Mixed Salts, ER capsults, (Adderall or generic). Shire makes the real stuff, but they are having “supply issues” and “uneven product distribution patterns” with Adderall. Teva makes generic medicines, and they are reporting “supply issues,” but are “releasing product as it becomes available.”
A shortage of an ADHD drug and other medications
Dr. Robert Zaid, Providence Park Hospital, was interviewed live on WXYZ-TV 7 regarding a shortage of an ADHD drug and other medications.
You can keep up to date on the status of these medications at the FDA’s “Current Drug Shortages” web page : http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm
If you are having problems finding and filling your prescriptions, be sure to talk with your doctor. There may be other strategies or interventions that would work just as well for you situation.
