Many ADHD drugs in short supply

ADHD drugs in short supply over strict FDA oversight. Photo via contropa.com

Parents of children on various ADHD medications know the drill when dropping off a prescription for their child’s ADHD medication — ask the pharmacist if they have the drug in stock before leaving and coming back for the prescription. Often times parents are told that their prescription can’t be filled because they’re out of the ADHD drug they’re trying to fill. If you have a few pills on hand, it may not be a big deal, but if your supply is running out, many children revert back to their uncontrolled behaviors very quickly and exponentially lose their ability to focus. Sometimes these involuntary “drug vacations” can cause anxiety within the family, create disciplinary issues at school and cause children to under perform in sports, school and social situations.

According to MSNBC, some of the reasons cited for the shortage of ADHD drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin is higher demand as nearly 5.4 millions children between four and 17 are diagnosed with ADHD. Strict FDA ADHD drug oversight are followed as Ritalin and other ADHD drugs have been the source of black-market drug abuse amongst illegal users. The FDA has thusly mandated that ADHD prescriptions only be valid for a week and that new prescriptions be written every month. Some parents are forced to visit their child’s doctors office every month to obtain new prescriptions and then forced to pharmacy hop in order to find a pharmacy with the drug in stock. One source told MSNBC that she had to visit 13 drug stores before she found one to fill her prescription.

It is currently unknown how long supply issues will continue or how the shortage is being addressed for future demand. The FDA warns parents that the shortage could last for months however. If your child is on ADHD medication, you might want to ask your child’s doctor about alternatives which may be in larger supply.