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Shortage of ADHD drugs: tips for parents

Daily Dose

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January 16, 2012|By Deborah Kotz

A rash of recent news reports detailed a growing shortage of certain drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder including methylphenidate - Ritalin and its generic equivalents - and the amphetamine Adderall and its generic equivalents. The US Food and Drug Administration attributed it to a tight control of production of stimulant drugs.

Dr. Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, director of the psychopharmacology program at Children’s Hospital Boston, said, “This is not new, and many of my patients’ parents have to run around to different pharmacies due to shortages.’’

Often, parents must come back to his office after an appointment to request a new prescription for a different dose pill, replacing a 30 milligram pill, for example, with three 10 milligram pills to be taken in the morning, since pharmacies aren’t allowed to make these replacements on their own to handle shortages.

The drug that seems to be in the shortest supply? Generic versions of Adderall XR (extended release), which is made by Shire. The drug appears on an FDA list of drug shortages; immediate release versions of both Adderall and Ritalin, also on the list, are currently in inadequate supply.

Shire has turned its efforts toward promoting and steadily producing its newer and more expensive drug Vyvanse - which is in plentiful supply and works similarly to Adderall XR; the DEA allows manufacturers to decide how they will divvy up their restricted production of the active ingredients used in expensive brand names and lower-priced generics.

“I’ve switched a lot of my patients to Vyvanse since it’s more in stock and has a similar action,’’ said Gonzalez-Heydrich. But many are forced to pay more for the prescription as a result.

Brand-name Adderall XR, usually priced higher than generics, is currently in good supply, according to Shire. “There has been adequate supply of Shire’s Adderall XR across the United States since March of 2011,’’ said spokesman Matt Cabrey, “following a brief and relatively small, spotty supply issue in January and February of 2011.’’

“Supplies of the two generic versions of Adderall XR are based on specific supply agreements that Shire has with other pharmaceutical companies,’’ Cabrey added.

Limits on the quantity that can be manufactured may explain the shortage in some areas.

Gonzalez-Heydrich’s advice to parents? Those expecting to get a new prescription for their recently diagnosed child should be aware of the shortage and ask the doctor to call their local pharmacy to see what’s in stock before walking out with a script.