Saturday, May 18, 2013

ADHD Medication Shortages: Are You Impacted?

By Eileen Bailey, Health Guide Friday, April 15, 2011
NBCNews reported yesterday about the nationwide shortage of ADHD Medications, stating, "In the past two weeks, federal Food and Drug Administration officials added the drugs methylphenidate hydrochloride and amphetamine mixed salts, the generic names for Ritalin and Adderall, to an expanding list of ...
Anonymous
wgnburnr
4/15/11 7:07pm

I, as an adult with A.D.D. and several co-morbid conditions, would be in real trouble if I were not able to get my needed med.'s. I would most probably loose my job, as this was the case for years. I have no idea what I would do, this does scrare me. and I'm a 55 year old Officer who works in a prison, so not much scares me.

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
4/17/11 10:12am

Thanks for your response. Let's hope that you do not have any problems getting medications.

 

Eileen

4/17/11 5:51pm

Well, currently I am having to go to a therapyst again. The first one in more than tyirty years. The Doctor I was seeing has retired, and the one who has replaced him, welll he dosn't beleive in the drugs used for A.D.D. so he won't periscribe them. I have an appointment, and, I'm kind of looking forward to the meeting, it has been so many years sice I saw anyone, For A.D.D. And when I last did, there really was no name for it, you were just a bad child. I started on ritiln aboput 20 some odd years ago, the as I had to take it twice aday, I didn't care for the spikes when it started to wear off, so I asked to go on Adderall er. I like it as it's got no ups and downs. I don't know what the counselor will wish to know, but I guess I'll see and go with the flow.

Anonymous
JM
4/21/11 11:02am

I HEAR YOU,NO RITALIN IN RITE AIDE MICHIGAN.I LIVE IN MELVINDALE,TAKING THE MED FOR OVER 20 YRS AND I HAVE BEEN OUT IT FOR 2 WEEKS.

I CAN NOT DO A THING,TIRED,TOOK VACATION,I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY JOB

I WOULD THINK THAT AT LEAST THEY COULD GIVE US PATIENTS HALF OF OF SCRIPT.

THAT IS PLACING THE PHARMACIES AT RISK OF LAW SUIT.

J

4/21/11 4:35pm

I went to fill my daughter's prescription finding out that they didn't have any medicine in the area where I live. So I went back to the doctor and he prescribed her something else which was called Metadate cd. Wow I truly did not want to purchase it for how expensive it was even after my insurance.I sure hope the shortage ends by next month because I don't know if I will be able to afford it next month and I know my daughter really needs the medicine.Do they ever out grow ADD? If so when is the appoximate age? The only reason I did purchase the Metadate Cd is because I don't know if she would be able to get through school without it.

4/22/11 9:53pm

Metadate cd is trhe generice of ritalin works exactly the same, used it for years until I asked to go on Adderall ER there are two forms of generice ritalin methalyn and metadate. Ask your doctor about them, or just look it up on the net.  Danny

4/23/11 1:32am

My daughter takes Concerta, which we love! (Ritalin was a nightmare for her. dexadrine was okay for a while, then it reversed itself. Within a month of starting concert, I said, "I have my daughter back!" (Prior to that, putting us otgether was like 2 cats in a bag!) I normally get 100 pills at a time. A couple of weeks ago, I got the maximum available - 30. (Of ocurse, my co-pay was the same either way.) I hope I can get more on the next perscription. (And, of course, have to go to get a new perscription every time i need to refill.)

 

4/26/11 12:42pm

In January, I went to four different pharmacies in Georgia in order to fill my Ritalin and two pharmacies in order to fill my Adderall.  My insurance does not pay for brand name drugs, only the generics.  (One of the Adderall generics I'm allergic to so can't have that one so my pharmacies always try to give me the one I'm not allergic to)  I haven't been able to fill my perscriptions since and it's nearly May now.  Going on things like Strattera (which there is no shortage of) is not an option as it not only doesn't work for me but also gives me seizures.  Ironic that the stimulants do not give seizures but the non-stim does.

 

I'm unemployed (despite having 2 bachelors and a masters) thanks to the last shortage there was.  I'm trying to go back to school and the only way I've been able to survive is by organizing classes so that I only go to school three days a week and not taking my medication every day including on days that I need it or having to play with my meds in order to see if I can get by with only taking half the dose or just one of the meds.  I cannot afford a mandated drug holiday.  The only thing this is going to do is force me to medication hoard in the future.

4/29/11 1:31am

We've been having trouble locating Concerta.  My one son takes 72 mgs/day and another son takes 36 mgs/day.  When we go to our usual drugstore they tell us that the medication is on back order and has been for weeks.  I called the manufacturer and they told me that their distribution center is filling requests from drug stores as they get them, so to tell my drugstore to send a request ASAP.  Drugstore said no - they already did that weeks ago.  When I asked what I was supposed to do for these two little boys, I was told to try calling other pharmacies.  I did and was able to locate enough for this month, but am concerned about next month's supply.  Anyone else having this issue?

9/24/11 2:32am

I also am an adult with ADD.  Typically, my normal dosage is 60mg per day, but since all the goofiness with the health care system lately and with my co-pay jumping from $10 to $38 each visit ... it has restricted me from getting my prescription filled monthly.

 

I now try to extend my 60 tablets as long as possible and have managed to go about 2 months on my regular script ... some days I don't take my medicine especially if it's like a relaxed non-pressure day ... and other days I'm rushing getting out the door, that by the time I remember, it's too late (I teach elementary school ... and the teacher can't be late to class! No turning back).  Tardiness is one of the traits I struggle with ... lol ... time just seems to slip away.

 

I had no idea that there was a shortage of Adderall (I take a generic brand by Sandoz).  When I filled my previous script on July 28, I paid like $17-18 for 60 tabs.  Today when I went to fill my prescription -- my doctor did not let me know there was a shortage or a spike in price ... but today she increased my dosage from 60 tabs to 90 (and now am I ever grateful) -- the cost was $115.38 for the 90 tabs or if I wanted to only take 60 it would have been $88.00!!  What a stunner!  I can't go without my medicine (the only one I take) as I tried going off of the Adderall two years ago to clean my body out and to really see if the Adderall made a difference for me ... it does.

 

My mother who has always been against any type of ADD Medicine(s) apparently noticed a big difference in my behavior when I was off the drug and actually encouraged me to go back on it and no longer complains if my speech gets a little rapid as my thoughts go very quickly or if I get dry-mouth when speaking to her.  A friend of hers, told my mom that I was "taking something" as I'm quite busy ... teaching, directing an after-school reading club, I'm the Children's Ministry Director at my church, I private tutor, and then just maintenance of my parent's main residence which always has to look "perfect" (although my room is constantly a mess -- I can make a hurricane in seconds ... and my stacks of paper piles are a constant annoyance -- something I'm also trying to work on).  My mother came to my defense, as she knows I don't abuse the Adderall and truly sees the balance it brings to me.

 

My pharmacist told me that the price can increase or decrease at any time ... so I'm hoping that the next time I need my refill, the price will once again drop down to what has typically been my normal. 

 

Good luck to others ... the price increase really hurts.   Frown

Anonymous
tony
10/10/11 5:25am

I am from michigan,ADD since 1975 never had a problem in getting ritalin.

WHAT I see is pharmacists look at us taking meds

for ADD/ADHD like drug addicts.

I am a profesional,with Doctotate degree

who cannot get the Rx because of fear of getting labeled

as addict.

I will be out of RITALIN IN 10 days.

On line pharmacies ask hundreds of dollars for 10mg.

The lowest price I have found is$399.00 for 210 tabs

of generic ritalin.

Biggest issue is delivery.

you'll get them in 14 days...joke.

30 days and counting.

We are in trouble,when meds given by our doctors

can not be filled by Pharmacists.

THEY REFUSE.

WORSE STORES ARE RITE AID.

TD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9generic)

10/23/11 3:06pm

I'm an adult with ADHD--I've been taking 20mg of generic adderall since I was 13 years old. I have called 17 pharmacies this morning trying to refill my prescription. No luck. This is ridiculous beyond belief.

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
10/27/11 6:04pm

I hope you have been able to find your medication. Please let me know if it has become available.

 

Eileen

1/11/12 4:41am

If you have insurance and they have mail order it is always available.  Many "REAL" mail order pharmacies have their own labs and produce generic compounds of like roxicodone which was impossible to get in December and many other times, I just ordered from Medco with of course talking to Dr. and I send prescriptions and in 4 days is sent overnight to me.I take Adderall 30mg/2 a day, and since Adderall XR has a generic made by same company called Vyanase which is still 75% dexedrine and supposedly less addictive but less effective is what Ifound.  It was hit and miss getting at a retail pharmacy until I started with mail order and they have never not had ANY medicine I needed.  I have Medicare and my provider as well as many have mail order and you wil not ever have to look all over for medicine or worry they will be out again.  It is also cheaper and i recieve about 24-26 days.  Generic Adderall xr is same price as brand now!!!!  Also if you take more than law allows to dispense, they can send amount Dr wants.  I am taking 240-30mg roxicodoen and 180 is limit.  It was dispensed without delay.  Way too much stress is involved in worrying about not having meds  as if you ned them stress is last thing you need.  hopefully this will set you on path to get mail oorder likeMedco which is world known.

Anonymous
KAB
11/11/11 6:47pm

WHERE IS THIS SHORTAGE THIS IS THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF IT. MY TAKES ADDERALL(GENERIC) AND I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM WITH GETTING IT. I LIVE IN SAND SPRINGS OK

11/11/11 6:49pm

I MEAN MY DAUGHTER TAKES IT.

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
11/17/11 9:27pm

I am glad you have not been impacted. We have had a number of members discuss that they are not able to get Adderall right now from different areas around the country.

 

Eileen

1/ 5/12 1:57pm

I am an adult with ADD and my 25 yr. old son is also an adult with ADD. I work from home and find it difficult to stay on task when it comes to paper work, I have known since I was a young women I have ADD but I never wanted to admit it, it was always manageable until the last 2 yrs so my Dr. put me on 10 mg. adderal three times a day. I usally get the 20 mg and break them as this is a large savings verses buying the 10mg. I also have no insurance so I am a cash pay. I have been having a hard time finding my meds just in the past 2 wks. they say the maker cannot provide till March. We got lucky finding my sons. My worry is more for my son than myself because he is a short order cook working at a fast pace.  He gets very mixed up  and cant stay focused without it, he has only been back on the meds for 2 mo.and has noticed a great improvement even his manager commented on how mch better he was doing and ask him what changed,as a child he was on Titlin and hated it and would throw his pills out and act as if he had taken them so we just found ways to work with the ADD and used some herbal remedies. The problem with the Herbal remedies is that you become imuned very quickly. I hope this ends soon, I think I will call my Dr to have my med. changed. does anyone have a suggestion to one that is comparable? Thanks

 SM in So. Cal

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
1/ 6/12 10:30am

Some recent news reports indicate that the Adderall shortage will continue for several more months. (See Medical News Today) If your pharmacy is having a hard time getting this medication, you can talk with your doctor about other medications. There are a number of different medications available and while I know that it is difficult to switch medications, especially when you know one works well, it may be necessary to try a different medication at this time.

 

You and your son should be able to talk with your doctor about some of the other medications and which one might be best based on how you responded to the Adderall.

 

Eileen

Anonymous
klyn
1/10/12 12:50pm

I became aware of the shortage right after Thanksgiving when I tried to refill my prescription for Dextroamphetamine.  Luckily I have an emergency earthquake kit that i had put a weeks worth in.  December was a rough month for me.I work in a grocery store and under normal conditions it is stresssful.  But with the holidays and VERY few pillsfor my ADD it was a nightmare. It was real hard dealing with the public and "keeping my cool".  I couldn't think and felt like people were mad at me.  I'm finally getting some meds this week.  I hope I don;t have to go through this again

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
1/26/12 7:13am

Just checking in to see if you have started seeing medication available and if the sortage has eased up a bit. Let me know.

 

Eileen

Anonymous
CMS
1/29/12 6:53pm

I'm a 23 year old that has taken Adderall since I was 9 years old for my ADD. I'm running low on my prescription of XR and we tried to get it filled today. None of the pharmacies have the generic available due to the shortage, but they do have the brand available...for $250. The generic is only $10, but it's not available anywhere.

 

Thankfully they do have the regular generic Adderall available, so I will have to make the switch to that instead of taking the XR. I will go back on the XR generic when the shortage lightens up or I finally get a job so I can afford the brand name.

 

I'm so sorry for everyone here that has been impacted by the shortage. The insurance companies really like to screw over their customers with prohibitively expensive medication and they don't even offer a generic. Good luck with everything! Things will improve soon.

2/ 9/12 6:48pm

I have ADHD, without medication I will end up dropping out of school and loose my job.  I have been on medication for 15 yrs and without it I do not function.  My kids don't want to be anywhere near me, if I don't have my medication.  This is really bad.  They have already changed my script, now I am angry, moody and feel horrible.  I want to give up. 

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
2/21/12 8:39pm

Hi,  I am just checking to see if you have been able to get your medication. Hopefully, the shortages will end soon.

 

Eileen

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By Eileen Bailey, Health Guide— Last Modified: 09/04/12, First Published: 04/15/11