AUSTIN, Texas — Texans are still scrambling to find medications for ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as a worldwide shortage continues with no end in sight. 

Manufactures and the FDA attribute supply shortages and increased demand as the reason for this lack of drugs, but Spectrum News 1 Texas found there’s more to the story.

The FDA first reported shortages of Adderall and generics in October, but pharmacists and doctors say they’ve been experiencing shortages since the summer. Now it looks like these shortages could last well into the middle of the year, which is unprecedented and a major problem for people who rely on these drugs to function.

Trying to find a pharmacy that has the right prescription for Aiden Carter’s ADHD is like a full-time job.

“That switch of having it all the time and then not having it is really frustrating,” she said.

It's an even bigger problem because the 24-year-old is also looking for full-time employment, and without her ADHD medication, that’s harder to do.

“I have a really hard time with executive functioning, and so I can kind of know what I need to do and stuff, but it’s really like the performing aspect of it,” Carter said.

The last time Carter went to fill her prescription, her pharmacy was out of stock. A pharmacist told her they would call her when it was ready. After five days, the Austinite was done waiting. She called seven pharmacies until she found one that had a supply. 

“The leaps and bounds you need to go [through] these days to get it, but you don’t have your medication, is ironic to say the least,” Carter said.

Carter takes a generic of 20mg Adderall Extended Release. It’s manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, one of the biggest manufacturers of ADHD medications in the world and one with a drug shortage.

When Spectrum News 1 Texas spoke to the FDA in December, a spokesperson told us that there were seven manufacturers with available products and the issue would be resolved in 30 to 60 days. Now, the FDA tells us there are four manufacturers that have availability, and delays have extended to March and April.

When we asked the FDA why it’s taking longer, they referred us to the database and their previous statement and told us to reach out to the manufacturers for more information.

The full email statement from Dec. 8:

“The FDA recognizes the potential impact that reduced availability of certain products may have on health care providers and patients. While the agency does not manufacturer drugs and cannot require a pharmaceutical company to make a drug, make more of a drug, or change the distribution of a drug, the public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or reduced availability of certain products. The FDA understands that manufacturers expect availability to continue to increase in the near future.”

The FDA’s drug shortage database lists each company’s reason for its shortage. Some reported increased demand for the drug and shortages of active ingredients, but many didn’t give a reason at all. Teva Pharmaceuticals listed “other.” We reached out to the company numerous times and got no reply. 

Psychiatrist Dr. Brent Turnipseed says these shortages are causing a strain with his staff.

“I’ve never seen or heard feedback from pharmacies and patients about having a stimulant shortage, mostly Adderall, for this long,” he said.

The Roots Behavioral Health Medical director says psychiatrists are having to make dozens of calls a day to help their patients find medication, which isn’t part of their job. 

“We’re left to maybe make phone calls all day long, which is not sustainable for a busy medical practice. I mean, we have thousands of patients,” he said.

Dr. Turnipseed says the percentage of adults diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed medications has skyrocketed in recent years because of increased awareness and loosened regulations of telehealth since the pandemic.

“We can prescribe controlled substances on telemedicine visits, so the barrier to getting the prescription is much lower,” he said.

Dr. Turnipseed says some of these telehealth companies are heavily marketing ADHD drugs and prescribing medication to patients without a proper evaluation. Studies also show doctors are diagnosing adult women like Carter at higher rates because they were misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed as children. ADHD was widely seen as a boys issue, and girls and women present different symptoms, which made it harder to identify.

Carter grew up just coping with her symptoms, but when she got older and took on more responsibilities, it was too difficult to do without medication.

Tarrytown pharmacist Rannon Ching says they get about 50 calls per day asking about ADHD medications.

“That’s been really difficult to navigate,” he said.

Ching says it’s not unusual to see shortages for these medications, but it’s never this long or widespread.

“That might last a week or two weeks, but this has been extended, this has lasted over four, five month at this point,” he said.

The generics and brands that are available are also the most expensive. Ching says insurance and pharmaceutical companies have contracts that affect what generics and brands are sold, and that drives up demand or the cost.

“That’s all these little back-door dealings that we don’t, as a pharmacy, don’t have control over,” he said.

So, what’s the workaround?

Call around to different pharmacies to see what’s available, or talk to your doctor about alternative options. You can also check the FDA for what is in stock.

Carter says other drugs don’t really work for her. For now, she’s just glad she has her pills, but when it’s time to refill, she will likely be dealing with the same dilemma.