Americans across the country are facing shortages in critical medications needed to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD.
Despite some manufacturers’ claims that the medication is available, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that a nationwide shortage of Adderall persists. However, a resolution is expected in the coming months.
According to a major manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, the alleged shortage stems from companies struggling to find enough workers, which slowed manufacturing, coupled with “a surge in demand” for the medication.
Adderall use has reportedly skyrocketed in the United States over the past two decades. Between 2006 and 2016, prescriptions to treat ADHD doubled, with the highest growth rates witnessed among adult women.
The COVID-19 pandemic also appears to have exacerbated the condition among the population. Margaret Sibley, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, previously told The New York Times that people sought ADHD prescriptions to help deal with the stress of isolation, restrictions, and lockdowns.
American consumers of Adderall are increasingly reporting concerns about procuring the drug in the future. Dr. Fairlee C. Fabrett, director of training and staff development for the child and adolescent division at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, insists the condition is “not something to make light of.”
According to Fabrett, “The people that depend on the medication for daily functioning, for going to work, for being a good mother, for going to class, are struggling.”
Those dependent on Adderall tend to experience withdrawal symptoms for upwards of two weeks without it. Of course, after the withdrawal subsides, ADHD symptoms persist.
For university student Meri Romedy Barbian, missing class and making long drives to find the drug highlighted her dependence on the medication. “It plays mind games with you… You’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, am I really this reliant on the medicine?'” she told The New York Times.
According to Dr. Fabrett, not everyone who stops taking Adderall will experience withdrawal, but for some who do, it can be severe.
Headaches, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, loss of appetite, and even suicidal thoughts, can result from stopping the medication, said Dr. Anish Dube, chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Children, Adolescents and Their Families.
Typically, the longer the drug is used, the more severe the withdrawal symptoms can be. Moreover, Dr. Dube suspects that short-acting Adderall is more likely to induce withdrawal symptoms than the extended-release version.
Another issue with the shortage is the rebound symptoms that can occur in some individuals. Symptoms of ADHD can become amplified after coming off Adderall compared to those experienced before medicating.
While the advice may provide scant relief for people suffering from the shortage, there are some temporary, albeit less effective, solutions. Dr. Brigid Groves, senior director of practice and professional affairs at the American Pharmacists Association, recommended focusing on essential health habits, like staying hydrated, consuming nutritious foods, and getting sufficient sleep every evening.
For those patients still unable to fill prescriptions, Dr. Dube suggested urgently developing a plan with your physician, which could include taking an alternative drug, like Ritalin.
However, switching medications is often not optimal for most people.
“Once you find your medication and you feel good with it, it’s very hard to change,” said Dr. Fabrett. The current shortage is expected to resolve soon, though. “This is not going to be forever,” she said.
