(WGHP) — The demand for medications to treat ADHD is higher than ever before, and drugmakers say they cannot keep up.
More than six million children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and almost nine million adults have also been diagnosed with ADHD. Drug treatments with brand names like Adderall, Focalin and Vyvanse have been in short supply for more than a year.
Demand is one part of the issue. Some of the drugs like Adderall are controlled substances, which makes them tougher to make and to get. The drug companies and the government are pointing fingers at each other, while customers have to call multiple pharmacies to get their medication.
“We honestly have very little control over having it in stock,” said pharmacist at Deep River Drug Sam Forrester.
Forrester has had to tell several customers their ADHD meds aren’t in stock.
“If they can’t get it to us, we can’t dispense it,” he said.
One reason demand for ADHD treatments has risen is because of telehealth and pandemic-era prescription law changes.
“Initially, there was a law that you couldn’t get prescribed a controlled substance without a face to face interaction,” Forrester said.
For those diagnosed with ADHD, going without the medication that helps them focus and function can be life-altering.
“I take Vvyvanse and … Adderall because my days can last for 14 hours,” Jami Fregeau said.
Fregeau is a local nurse and mental health advocate on social media under the Neurodivergent Nurse page who says she’s hearing more and more stories from people who can’t get their medication.
“Sometimes, you have to be an advocate for yourself. Your pharmacy may not have Adderall or Vyvanse … so you have to get on the phone and start calling pharmacies all around you,” she said.
People with ADHD without medication can have trouble completing tasks, making the hunt for medication even tougher.
“As much as we want to help, there’s only so much we can do to get the drug in,” Forrester said.
Without a clear end in sight, patients are left with few options.
“They’re trying to put in practice a lot of the things like sleep and general exercise, but it doesn’t replace the stimulant we need for the dopamine in our brain for us to function like … ‘normal people’ with neurotypical brains,” Fregeau said.
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She says operating as a person with ADHD without medication is exhausting.
“Imagine we start out our day, and I give you $100, and you give me $100. You go downstairs to make a cup of coffee .. You’re going to spend $5 on your cup of coffee. Ror me, it’s going to take me $20 to make that cup of coffee. While we can manage, and we do the same things, the energy it takes to do the simplest tasks … depletes us a lot faster,” she said.
Pharmacists recommend calling about a week in advance of needing a prescription and considering checking with your provider about name brand and generic options and even looking at dosages.