Is There an Adderall Shortage? What You Should Know

The country's supply of Adderall, a stimulant commonly used to treat symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), is falling short of demand, as both patients and pharmacists have reported shortages. In fact, a recent survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association found that more than six in 10 small pharmacies report having difficulty obtaining Adderall.1

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the largest supplier of Adderall in the United States, has reported "supply disruptions" due to "packaging capacity constraints"2 that are affecting both branded and generic Adderall. Still, the FDA has not announced an Adderall shortage.

However, Howard Weeks, MD, chief medical officer at Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center, says he's spoken with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, who maintain a list of medication shortages in the U.S. Adderall and its generic versions are on that list, and ASHP says they're monitoring it.

"What gets really complicated in the world of pharmaceuticals is who is actually producing the pills," Weeks says. "Oftentimes a manufacturer subcontracts with another manufacturer to make a medication thus if one producer has a problem it can have ripple effects across many companies. The short answer is we just don’t know. There are estimates that things will improve in September/October."