How to Navigate the Shortage in ADHD Meds

Margo was often daydreaming in kindergarten and struggled to stay on task. After her pediatrician diagnosed her symptoms as ADHD, she was prescribed a stimulant medication. It kept her from going to sleep at night, so her pediatrician prescribed another non-stimulant medication. It was so sedating that Margo couldn’t stay awake during the day. 

Margo’s mother swore their next attempt at finding the right medication would be their last, and thankfully, the third prospect worked and was tolerable. For the next 10 years, Margo took the same stimulant on school days for better focus and concentration— until it became increasingly harder to procure at local pharmacies. Last month, its supply dried up altogether. Not one pharmacy had it in stock or could say when it would.

How ADHD Medications Became Scarce

For the one in 10 children, ages 3-17, who reportedly have ADHD, stimulant medication and therapy are a first-line treatment. The same is true for adults with ADHD. Meanwhile, ADHD cases among both children and adults are on the rise.

There was also a surge in ADHD prescriptions among adults during the pandemic. Some studies have found that containment measures and social isolation exacerbated symptoms of the disorder.

In October 2022, the FDA announced a shortage of the ADHD medication Adderall. The move set in motion a domino effect. As Adderall users scrambled to replace their prescription with other ADHD stimulants like Ritalin and Focalin, manufacturers of these same drugs tried in vain to meet the skyrocketing demand. 

Nearly two years later, what began as a shortage of Adderall is now a full-scale lack of access to first-line medications for ADHD. Stimulants like Adderall, their potential for addiction aside, have helped many people with diagnosed ADHD successfully manage symptoms of inattention, poor organization, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity. 

Tips for Surviving the Shortage

What do you do when you can’t get the medication that has helped you manage your or your child’s ADHD symptoms? The following tips may help.

Contact the manufacturer and request a list of all the pharmacies in your area that recently ordered your medication. If you contact their customer service, some manufacturers may be motivated to help by the prospect of losing your business. They may be able to advise you, based on their most recent shipment to distributors, whether a CVS near you or a Walgreens across town is your best bet.

Ask your doctor to change how they write your prescription. Sometimes, certain doses of a stimulant will be easier to obtain. For example, if you usually fill one prescription of 20 mg Focalin, you may have more luck with two prescriptions, each written for 10 mg Focalin.

In a similar vein, a short-acting dose of Ritalin may be in stock when the extended-release version is not. 

Ask your doctor for the next best substitute. If your medication is one of those most impacted by the shortage, you may be better served by replacing it with a medication that is close to it in formulation. There is always the possibility of potentially intolerable side effects, when switching to a new medication. If it is chemically very similar to the medication you’ve been taking, it may be worth trying. 

Ration. Some people may find they can function alright by reserving their medication for test or presentation days and taking a daily supplement for focus and alertness on other days. 

Try therapy. Behavioral therapy, like medication, is a first-line treatment for ADHD. It can equip people with coping tools and strategies for better managing their symptoms and the challenges of daily life.

When will this shortage in ADHD medications end? Who can say? For now, it seems, those most affected must learn to adapt as best they can.