People with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often treated with a stimulant medication. The most common ones are methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall).
These medications are usually beneficial and enables patients to function much better. Ideally, treatment also includes psychotherapy that teaches the patient methods to compensate for their difficulty with impaired attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The therapy also helps them correct unhelpful thinking such as a belief that will-power alone is all that is needed. In addition, there are other medications that can be used when these stimulants do not work well enough or are not tolerated.
For those patients treated with an amphetamine they may face a new challenge. This category of medications is now in short supply, so it may be difficult to get the medication at doses and amounts needed.
This shortage appears to be due to a major manufacturer having difficulty producing it. Hopefully, this will only be temporary.
If you are taking an amphetamine for ADHD, you may want to speak with your doctor about what you should do if you cannot obtain the medication in doses and amounts you usually take.
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine and Psychiatry
