ADHD Medication Shortage Leads to an Increase in Drug Prices

A nationwide shortage of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Adderall has increased in price, placing financial pressure on families and forcing them to search for alternatives, according to a news release published in USA Today.

“One mother from Delaware diagnosed with ADHD, whose husband and 17-year-old daughter also have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, told USA TODAY that when the Adderall shortage was announced, their doctor switched her daughter to the only alternative they could find, Vyvanse,” wrote Cecilia Garzella, USA Today.

The upward price trend has outpaced inflation and, in some cases, has doubled or tripled since the Adderall shortage started in October 2022. As a result of the shortage, the amount patients pay per month after insurance has increased from under $20 to $300.

Prices for other drugs used to treat ADHD are also rising in price, according to the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost data. For some versions of methylphenidate, sold under the brand names Ritalin and Concerta, the average price paid by small- to mid-size independent and chain pharmacies have nearly doubled since last year. The average price of dexmethylphenidate, sold under the brand name Focalin, more than doubled.

The price increase has led to patients being unmedicated, leading to challenges in their day-to-day lives. Patients with ADHD often have challenges with forgetting to eat, difficulty maintaining focus at work, and struggling to keep up with housework.

The shortage has been caused by doctors diagnosing more ADHD and writing more prescriptions for drugs that treat it, combined with limits on drug production. Telehealth and virtual prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed patients to have easier access to healthcare providers, and practitioners were permitted to diagnose ADHD and prescribe controlled substances online. This practice previously required an in-person visit, and the flexibility has been extended through December 31, 2024.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been working to adjust its quota regulations and coordinating with manufacturers to increase the production of ADHD stimulants.

“Manufacturing can’t be turned on overnight, so hopefully the manufacturers can ramp up production and within a couple months, we see more supply hitting shelves,” said Michael Ganio, senior director of pharmacy practice and quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Reference

Garzella, C. ADHD drug prices rise as Adderall shortage leaves patients scrimping to fill prescriptions. USA Today. Published December 21, 2023. Accessed January 2, 2024. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/12/21/adhd-drug-prices-increase-nationwide-shortage/71746194007/