The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that the current nationwide Adderall shortage could last until 2023.
The drug, which helps with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has been facing order delays for some time now. Pharmacies have reported difficulties filling prescriptions for the stimulant for more than two months.
Both an increase in demand for the medication and manufacturing delays have caused the shortage. On the manufacturing side, a summer labor shortage on a packaging line set companies like Teva Pharmaceuticals back. Though that issue has since been resolved, inventory recovery can take months to catch up.
In regard to the increased demand, there has been a significant increase in ADHD diagnoses in both children and adults. The uptick also coincides with the Covid-19 lockdown and overall increased awareness about ADHD. Adderall prescriptions themselves went up by 10.4% from 2020 to 2021 and spiked to 41.4 million prescriptions dispensed.
While interrupting Adderall usage is not technically life-threatening, it can cause symptoms to return and can be extremely distressing. The FDA and experts advise those affected to consult with their doctors to find the best intermittent treatment.
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