Some may have noticed that pharmacies are having a problem filling Adderall prescriptions. 

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed a nationwide shortage of Adderall, a stimulant medication for attention-deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD). Its manufacturing, supply, and distribution are strictly limited and monitored.

In a statement to the public, the FDA said,”We are in constant communication with the manufacturers of the drug, and one of the biggest manufacturers, Teva, is experiencing intermittent manufacturing delays.”

In August, Teva, the main manufacturer of Adderall, reported delays in filling the orders. The delay is attributed to a labor shortage in their packaging line, an issue that has since been resolved.

A spokesperson for the drug company said that even though they have “active supply” of the generic and branded versions of the drug, they are experiencing problems with backorders. The spokesperson insisted that the delay is temporary. 

According to the FDA, supply from other manufacturers is insufficient to meet the demands of the American public. They suggest that patients work closely with their healthcare professionals to look for alternative options.

The shortage has created a “mess” for people who take ADHD stimulants, noted Dr. Gabrielle Shapiro, a psychiatrist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai in New York City. While acknowledging the shortage, Dr. Shapiro said the challenge is acute for school children who have been deprived of their medication as the school year resumed.

According to a CDC report in 2019, almost 10% of children may have been diagnosed with ADHD, and the numbers may have increased significantly during the pandemic.

Dr. Anish Dube, an American psychiatrist, said stopping the use of Adderall is not life-threatening; however, the rebound symptoms, such as inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity may return and cause problems for children, and adults as well. 

Adderall is known to be a drug that is abused and sold to people without a prescription. Law enforcers and doctors are warning people not to buy the drug outside the pharmacy or get it from friends as they might get counterfeit products which might lead to other problems. According to the Drug Enforcement Authority, many pills containing fentanyl are made to look like amphetamines, and consuming these could pose a potential danger.

One patient, Emily Hoffman, has ping-ponged between pharmacies trying to find one with the drug in stock in Seattle, but recently, she had to go a week without her medication. The sales director at her drug store said, “We don’t want to neglect patients who are currently filling; unfortunately, we have to send some patients away since we can’t meet their demands. When we turn them away, some get frustrated and become aggressive. But mostly when we turn them away, they feel disappointed and anxious.”

It is estimated that full supply may not be available until March of 2023. That’s small comfort for the estimated six million children in the US (and their parents and teachers) who are diagnosed with ADHD.