ADHD Drug Shortages Worsen as Makers Say Production Is Maxed Out
With supply constraints entering a second year, patients would like to see rules governing prescriptions loosened.
Mark Bouchard’s troubles started in June. Until then, the Chicago law student had no issues getting Vyvanse, a drug that controls ADHD. That month, the 28-year-old called three pharmacies before finding it. In July, it took about a dozen calls. Last month, it was more than 30—and the prescription was a different combination of pills that cost $270, triple the usual price. “Every month the game of phone tag gets longer, and I have to ration my meds for more days,” Bouchard says.
Like Bouchard, millions of Americans with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have faced increasing trouble finding the drugs they need. Last year, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the leading maker of Adderall, started experiencing shortages that it blamed on a dearth of factory workers. As buyers sought alternatives, rival companies started to run short as well. In July of this year, the US government urged drugmakers to ramp up production, but some of the biggest manufacturers say they have no plans to boost output. Teva is “running at full capacity” after resolving its labor issues last year, says Chief Executive Officer Richard Francis. Increasing production, he says, would require finding or building new factories, though the company declines to say whether it’s considering such a move.