On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed that a nationwide shortage of the immediate release formulation of amphetamine mixed salts, after weeks of individual reports of frustration with getting Adderall prescriptions filled, commonly referred to by the brand name Adderall.
Adderall is a stimulant medication that can treat ADHD. It requires a prescription, supply is strictly monitored, and distribution is limited, as a controlled substance.
Without medication and calling multiple pharmacies to fill prescriptions some individuals already knew there was a problem having reported going weeks. Since August some patients have had trouble filling Adderall prescriptions.
“It’s like the feeling when you first wake up in the morning, and you can’t quite think, except all day long for me without [Adderall]. It really affects my life”, A Wheat Ridge resident, Daryl Linley, told ABC’s Denver affiliate, KMGH.
Teva, the largest maker of generic Adderall in the U.S., told a reporter “the supply that we are manufacturing/distributing right now is on pace to be consistent or greater than our supply at this time last year by the end of this year. The demand is not”.
As “there has been a significant rise in national prescription rates the company said they are experiencing “intermittent backorders”, to product availability this can cause some constraint.”
To recover within months Teva says disruptions will only be “temporary” and expects inventory.
Like CVS and Walgreens major retail pharmacies have also noted supply chain constraints. They are “adding their pharmacists “will work with patients who are prescribed this medication as needed, aware of intermittent shortages of generic amphetamine medication in the supply chain”, a CVS spokesperson told a reporter.
There is no “shortage” of Sandoz amphetamine (generic Adderall) in the market at this time and the company is meeting all current customer orders, while another supplier of the drug, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (a division of Novartis) told reporters.
At their regular pharmacy the constraints on the supply have led to many voicing the challenges of getting their prescriptions filled.
The issue was “significantly impacting our classrooms,” at a meeting Monday, In Kentucky, a Fayette County school board member, Stephanie Spires, said.
Spires said “I talked to a parent today who said she was able to get five pills”.
As the new school year kicks into gear the shortage of this key treatment for so many Americans, especially kids, comes. As of 2019 the CDC estimates that almost 10% of children have ADHD, and during the pandemic these numbers may have increased.
With use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence there are many reasons for constrained supply, including tight regulation due to its classification as a schedule II drug which the DEA defines as “drugs with a high potential for abuse”.
In recent years it may have an effect on supply in addition, labour shortages, supply chain issues and an increase in the number of people who have been prescribed the drug.
“While stopping Adderall is generally not life-threatening, rebound symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, may return and be distressing”, Dr. Anish Dube from the American Psychiatric Association told a reporter.
including from a friend, as these pills may be counterfeit and/or laced with other lethal substances, Doctors and law enforcement officials warn that people should never buy Adderall outside of a pharmacy.
Unlike amphetamines (Adderall) but could be potentially deadly the DEA says many fake pills, containing fentanyl, are made to look like prescription stimulants.
They should call their pharmacist or doctor to discuss a plan, if people are struggling to obtain their medication and feel they’ve exhausted all options.
Dube said “With their psychiatrists on how to manage symptoms without medication those with more severe symptoms should discuss contingency plans”.
Spires, in Kentucky, said that a “classroom of kids who have had to quit their meds cold turkey because they can’t get them – we’ve got some issues going on and brewing here”.
“And it’s not just kids, it’s adults as well. But for us our purpose here is children that are not getting what they need, or not coming into the classroom prepared to learn and it creates a stressful environment for all involved.”
The FDA said in their announcement, that they would “continue to use all the tools we have available to help keep supply available for patients”.
Source:- https://liveblogsus.com/fda-confirms-adderall-shortage-in-the-us/
