US Limit on a Key ADHD Drug Is Worsening Shortages, Group Says
- Makers of generic Vyvanse aren’t allowed enough raw material
- At least seven companies are reporting shortages, FDA says
Medications used to treat ADHD, like Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), have been in tight supply since August 2022.
Photographer: Hailshadow/iStockphotoA US shortage of the new generic version of Vyvanse, an ADHD medication, is due in part to federal limits on production, according to an industry group representing generic drug makers.
Manufacturers haven’t been able to secure enough raw material “to launch their products at full commercial scale,” according to a letter from the Association for Accessible Medicines addressed to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which sets the limits on production that the industry must follow. These restrictions on obtaining the drug’s active ingredients have curbed generic manufacturing, and people and insurers are paying more for the branded drug as a result, the letter says.