A nationwide shortage of drugs that treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has forced some patients to shell out hundreds more for expensive, brand-name alternatives.
A new analysis from USA Today found that prices paid by retail community pharmacies for common ADHD medications have outpaced inflation, and in some cases, doubled or tripled in the last year.
The Food and Drug Administration announced a shortage of Adderall in October 2022 due to “ongoing intermittent manufacturing delays” at the company that makes the drug.
According to a recent study, an estimated 6 million children and 11 million adults suffer from ADHD. Adderall is a popular stimulant prescribed to improve focus and attention.
Adderall shortages prompt patients to seek alternatives – in turn, those ADHD drugs become harder to find and prices rise.
The Food and Drug Administration announced a shortage of Adderall in October 2022 due to “ongoing intermittent manufacturing delays” at the company that makes the drug. Alex DiStasi – stock.adobe.com
A Delaware mother — whose husband and 17-year-old daughter also have ADHD — told USA Today that a lack of Adderall prompted their doctor to switch her daughter’s prescription to Vyvanse, the only option they could find.
The mother — who USA Today identified only by her first name, Sam — shared that the monthly amount they paid after insurance went from less than $20 to $300.
Without insurance, a 100-capsule supply of Vyvanse costs around $1,306, according to Drugs.com.
Adderall shortages prompt patients to seek alternatives – in turn, those ADHD drugs become harder to find and prices rise. Shutterstock
GoodRx, which provides coupons for the drugs, said generic Vyvanse costs $100, while brand-name Vyvanse starts at $369, which is slightly more than the cost of brand-name Adderall.
Sam told USA Today that ADHD medication is now too expensive for her and her husband — their daughter’s health and education are priorities.
“With medication and accommodations at school, my daughter is a straight-A student. Without medicine, he failed,” explained Sam. “It’s a significant difference.”
USA Today reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration said it has adjusted its quota restrictions to increase production of ADHD stimulants. AP Photo/Jenny Kane
In addition to the price spike, Sam says there ends up being an “additional ADHD tax” because they have to travel long distances to pharmacies that stock the medication.
“You can’t really compare them, but if there’s a cancer drug shortage, there’s going to be more of an uproar than an ADHD drug shortage because people don’t seem to realize this is a disability,” Sam said. “It’s very debilitating. It has a huge impact on your quality of life.”
As for the ADHD drug shortage, USA Today reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration says it has adjusted its quota restrictions to increase production of ADHD stimulants.
“The DEA has been in communication with the relevant manufacturers, and 17 of the 18 manufacturers have informed us that they will use the allocated quota amount and increase production of the stimulant drug,” the agency wrote in a letter earlier last month.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
