After a full day of seeing patients, a Western New York psychiatrist said he spends hours each day calling various pharmacies in an attempt to secure much-needed Adderall for his patients.
Patients of Dr. Michael Hallett are among the millions of Americans who have been left without medication due to a nationwide shortage.
The shortage is linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, during which many people were prescribed the drug to deal with the realities of lockdown. Demand is currently far outstripping supply.
Amherst-based According to Hallett, 10% of his patients are without the medication. ‘If this continues, it will become increasingly difficult if it does not turn around,’ the doctor told WIVB in an interview.
Those diagnosed with ADHD typically have difficulty paying attention, are hyperactive, and exhibit impulsive behavior.
‘We get a lot of people who come in for other reasons, such as depression and anxiety, and when we talk to them and do a thorough evaluation, we find out, ‘Well, you’re depressed and anxious because you have ADHD and you haven’t been treated,’ Dr. Hallett explained.
‘”Life has been difficult for you, and you’ve struggled your entire life, which leads to anxiety and depression,” he added.
Hallett stated that some patients who are unable to obtain their prescribed medication are using Ritalin, which he claims is not as effective in many cases and can cause side effects due to a change in brain chemistry in those used to Adderall.
A shortage of Ritalin was also reported in January. Concerta, Focalin, and Vyvanse are some other common alternatives.
According to Teresa Harberg of Tacoma-based MultiCare, those manufacturers were not expecting an increase in demand and are experiencing some shortages.
She stated that a consistent supply of all relevant drugs is “at least a couple or more months away.”
Dr. Hallett blames the DEA, claiming that while legally only 20 million grams of Adderall can be produced per year, the rule remained in effect despite increased demand.
Prescriptions increased 10% from the previous year to 41 million in 2021.
According to Symphony Health, only 15.5 million people were prescribed Adderall in 2009.
The problem of increased demand was exacerbated in October by a production issue at Teva, the drug’s largest manufacturer.
According to Bloomberg, a psychiatrist in New Hampshire said the shortage is ‘particularly bad,’ and she has to send patients 20 miles away to get prescriptions.
In some cases, patients discover that in the time it takes them to arrive, another patient has arrived and taken the last of the Adderall.
A pharmacist in Columbus, Georgia, told WRBL that he gets calls every 20 minutes asking about the drug’s availability.
‘We get about one call every 20 minutes for people we don’t know. When we look at the phone, we usually see messages from wireless contacts. ‘I’ve never had a doctor call and ask if I had anything in stock,’ Terry Hurley said.
What is Adderall, and who is affected by the shortage?
ADHD and narcolepsy are treated with Adderall and its generic version (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts).
The medication is available in a variety of doses as well as extended and immediate release. All of them are in short supply. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 8.4 percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults have ADHD.
He added that because he lives in a small town, his pharmacy prioritizes local customers.
According to the FDA’s shortage tracker website, the brand-name version of Adderall is no longer in short supply as of January. The generic version is expected to be unavailable until March.
According to Erin Fox, the director of drug information and support services at the University of Utah Health hospitals, the shortage has led to finger pointing.
‘A lot of companies tell us that DEA quotas are the reason they can’t have full availability. However, the DEA claims that the companies have not used all of their quota and that it will not be increased,’ Fox said.
‘We continue to manufacture these products, and Teva has supply of both branded Adderall and its generic version,’ a Teva spokesman told NPR.
The shortage became widely known in July 2022, thanks to a Reddit post from a person who was told about it by a pharmacist.
In a national survey of about 360 independent pharmacies conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association, 64% reported a drug shortage in July and August.
ADHD was diagnosed in 13% of US children aged 12-17 between 2016 and 2019.
Many minors with ADHD also have learning disabilities, anxiety, and depression.
Experts have advised those affected by the shortage not to seek prescriptions online or share them with others.
»Shortage of adderall across the US becomes a massive problem for ADHD patients«