The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms that there is a nationwide shortage of Adderall, limiting the supply and distribution of the drug across the United States.
Americans are now facing a shortage of prescription drugs for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and patients are calling for its immediate release, ABC News reports.
Patients And Doctors Are Scrambling For Alternatives
The FDA officially declared a shortage on the stimulant drug on Wednesday, citing that Teva Pharmaceuticals is not manufacturing enough to meet the US market demand.
According to Gizmodo, Adderall is an amphetamine and salt mixture that is widely used for ADHD but is also abused as a study drug because it is known to improve focus.
Individuals who require the drug as part of their prescription medication have already reported going without it for weeks and have been urging pharmacies to roll out supplies.
The director of the Adult ADHD Center of Maryland, Dr. David Goodman, said that even psychiatrists have been adjusting prescriptions to assist patients, The New York Times writes.
However, Teva, the largest maker of Adderall in the US, said that they are manufacturing and distributing supplies at a consistent pace, but the demand for the drug has been irregular.
Meanwhile, another drug supplier called Sandoz Pharmaceutical said that there is no shortage of Sandoz Adderall in the market right now as they are meeting all of their current demands.
Read More: Adderall Abuse Among College Students, Twitter Findings Track Use
ADHD Is Becoming A More Common Diagnosis
ABC News says that the company has noticed a significant rise in national prescription rates due to back orders, which causes the disruption in product availability.
Gizmodo reports that the spike in demand for Adderall is simultaneous to the rise of its extralegal use but it is also because of the increase in adults getting an ADHD diagnosis.
In a few months in 2021 alone, the number of adults between the ages of 22 and 44 diagnosed with ADHD climbed by 15%, possibly including those who get unauthorized prescriptions online.
However, adults are not the only ones affected by ADHD as it is also common for kids, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating 10% of them have it as of 2019.
While it has become easier to get a diagnosis for ADHD as much as it is to get a prescription, the American Psychiatric Association warns the public of possible side effects, KMA Land says.
"While stopping Adderall is generally not life-threatening, rebound symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, may return and be distressing," Dr. Anish Dube claims.
Furthermore, the Drug Enforcement Administration also believes that Adderall, like other drugs, has the potential to be addicting, causing psychological and physical dependence in patients.
Additionally, doctors and law enforcement continue to remind Americans to avoid buying counterfeit pills since they can be lethal, according to KMA Land.
In connection to this, telehealth companies Cerebral and Done Health are already facing federal investigation for alleged violations of the Controlled Substance Act.
Until supply is restored, professionals recommend patients seek alternatives as supervised by their doctors to determine their best treatment options, according to WBIW.
The FDA's Drug Shortage webpage promises to update the information on Adderall supply regularly, telling patients when the supply will be available for distribution.
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