Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs in Short Supply, reports FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that medicines used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are in short supply. Nearly hundreds of patients are complaining daily to the FDA that they are not able to get the needed amount of the ADHD medication as it is out of stock at the pharmacies. This shortage has affected millions of children and adults who rely on medications to treat ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity, inattentiveness, overactivity, difficulty staying focused, etc.

The reason for the drug shortage is due to the result of a troubled relationship between drug manufacturers and Drug Enforcement Administration (DFA), with drug manufacturers interested in maximizing their profits whereas DFA wanting to limit the supply to curtail the illicit drug abuse as this medication is being used by several college students to stay up all night.

On a yearly basis, DFA accepts the applications from drug manufacturers, and it regulates and allocates the quota of the drug's active pharmaceutical ingredient on the basis of sale of the drug in the previous year. However, now multiple manufacturers have reported that their ADHD drugs are in short supply. So the FDA has included these drugs to its shortages list.

ADHD drugs are sold as both generics and under brand names such as Adderall and Ritalin. Some manufacturers (such as Shire Pharmaceuticals) make both brand and generic versions of the drug, with adequate production of high-priced branded drugs compared to low-profit generic drugs. The short supply of amphetamine-based drugs (Adderall) has led doctors to switch to methylphenidate-based drugs (Ritalin) to their patients, which has created shortages of these drugs too.