YES ! THere is definitely a widespread shortage of adderall. I went to 5 pharmacies in my area this weekend (ranging from the big guys like CVS and WalMart to little mom and pop places) and none of them had ANY adderall at all (of any type or size). They also told me that they had no idea when they would get any. Unfortunately I dont have any information on the cause of this. A manufacturing problem would not really explain it because there are several companies that manufacture it. this is a big problem for us.

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Carmy, I'm so sorry to hear that you have been experiencing the same problem! Luckily, I have quite a bit of the short-acting Adderall left over so I've been taking that. I ended up calling CVS Caremark (online company that fills presciptions...I've gotten my asthma meds filled by them before, but never ADD meds). They have PLENTY of Adderall XR and foresee NO PROBLEMS with any back-orders in the near future. (???)

I was a little leary about mailing off this paper prescription/getting the medicine back as it's a controlled substance, but I felt that I had no choice. The website is www.cvs.com. Go to "Pharmacy Services" and see caremark.com. Hope this helps!

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I live north of Boston, Ma. and am experiencing the same difficulties; no solutions unfortunately.(I take the short acting.) There is more than one brand of generic adderall, so the shortage makes no sense.An online pharmacy is a scary thought, but will try it.

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Setramseys, I wonder if it's just our state? I can't explain this nor can the pharmacies apparently. If I get more information, I will let you know!

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I am on 20 mg 3 times a day of Adderall. I never had a problem filling 90 pills at once until 2 months ago. Last much I called literally 12 pharmacies and found exactly 90 pills at a mom and pop drug store. This month, I found the same issue but got lucky with the fourth pharmacy who had 100 pills on hand. Every pharmacist I talk to gives me the same, "There is a problem with the manufacturing of the pill and we dont know when we will get more". It seems that no one knows what the deal is but Im kind of getting concerned. My son was just put on 5mg of XR and we haven't had an issue finding his so far.

I hope this ends soon! Conspiracy Theory: Pirates hijacked a shipment and the FDA and DEA is covering it up.

'

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I had the same issue in January and February, this month i was able to fill my script (60 tablets of the Generic 30mg instant release tablets) at the first Pharmacy I had went to, without issue. Has anyone been advised as of the cause of the shortage?

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When I filled my son's adderall last (had to go to 2 pharmacies to get them) I asked the pharmacist and was told that the demand has outweighed the supply as more and more people are being prescribed adderall and the companies are having trouble keeping up with the demands. I also take adderall and had to change to a different pharmacy to find one to fill it. I live in Wisconsin -so it's not just a 'local' thing ...it's everywhere.

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I am from B'ham, Alabama and have also ran into problems when trying to find Adderall at local Pharmacies. I'm prescribed the 20mg Adderall 3 a day and when I went to fill my script the only Adderall I found was 10mg. So I asked the Pharmacist who is a dear friend, what was going on. She said there is a raw material shortage and that is why not just one but all the companies who make Adderall are so behind. She also said that it has caused major problems across the Nation and no one has a direct answer as to when this issue will be resolved. I then went back to my Doc's office & told them about this, and he switched me to Vyvance. However that was 2 weeks ago & sadly I am not having much success with the new meds so I have an appointment tomorrow to be switched back to Adderall!!!!!! Hopefully I will find them, wish me luck!!

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still running low here in Arkansas as well. When they filled my prescription they had to give me 12.5 and 7.5 because they had no 20mg. Now we have pink tablets instead of orange and they cost me almost triple what they were a month ago! I wondered to you guys that are on 20mg 3 times per day... how well do you sleep? I have the hardest time sleeping on just 20mg twice a day. And I have been on Adderall for over 10 years. Thanks

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I belong to a large hmo (kaiser) and last month when i went to fill my rx they told me they are completely out of the med and gave me metadate instead. I feel awful. I have been taking it for 3 weeks now and just want my adderall back. Has anyone else noticed a difference between metadate and adderall?

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My son has been using a generic called Methalyn ER for a while and it's been working better than anything we have tried thus far. Whether it's a generic for Adderall or not I'm not sure. I was told generic for Concerta but a lot of them are the same type of meds. Anyway, we can't get it anywhere. The doctor tried prescribing Metadate and even after insurance it was more than I am willing to pay. One of the ladies from the pharmacy told me someone said something about the military using it for some reason but you know how rumors fly. Our insurance prefers us to use CVS and I've avoided it because of the whole sending in the written prescription. But if that's the only way to do it I will try it. We are from Idaho btw.

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Hi all, My name is JoNel Aleccia; I'm a reporter with msnbc.com, the online news site. I'm looking to talk to ADD/ADHD families about how the shortage of Adderall/Ritalin is affecting you. Please e-mail jonel.aleccia@msnbc.com or call 425-705-1839. As soon as possible, please! Thanks.

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Like the rest of you, I went to several pharmacies, including my online one and they were all out of GENERIC Adderall. A kindly pharmacist at a major chain said they wouldn't be getting any until October, 2011. I was getting desperate, as I have a new job and need to concentrate, so thought I would get the brand name Adderall. Even with good insurance, that was still going to cost me over $100 a month. How can this be? Did the brand name Adderall buy out all the generics, so they no longer produce? Help!

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I live in the Boston metro area and am also experiencing a shortage. Even Harvard Vanguard in Boston, the pharmacy I usually can rely on, had none in stock and made no mention of a current order. I also checked Target Pharmacy and nothing. I can't go without this long acting Adderal for much longer. I take the generic. I may try Caremark because I really need to get this medication filled ASAP. I got the paper script on 4/11 and we're now almost a month out.

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I saw a news that tackles about melatonin. This hormone is produce by our body. This hormone makes us feel drowsy. The news also mentions that there is a new craze sweeping the land. Kids in New England may be getting hooked on melatonin brownies. Melatonin is a hormone, produced by the human body. It is also called the sleep hormone, as it is secreted by the brain and makes people feel sleepy. Children are only intended to get small doses, and the packaging and marketing of melatonin-laced desserts toward children is what individuals are concerned with.

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I just moved to SW Florida and the shortage of Adderall has been the bane of my existence! It's ridiculous here - the pharmacies are out of both the generic and the brand (though more of the brand, if anything) for IR and XR in just about every strength except 25 mg of the XR. I've gone to CVS, walgreens, wal-mart, Publix, and Target, and I get the same responses, and my doctor even switched up the dosages so that I would have more luck. My regular pharmacists suggested that I get partial refills if they only have some of the medicine, which I've done b/c it's a lot easier, and then my dr writes another script for a partial supply.

Unfortunately, the insurance companies have automatic flags that arise when someone has multiple scripts (despite that they are partials) that are filled at several pharmacies, and they thought I was dr/pharmacy shopping or diverting, so they sent letters to every single doctor I've seen in the past 3 months regardless if they prescribed me adderall (including my PCP, Ob/gyn, allergist, and one of my colleagues who prescribed me an antibiotic when i had a sinus infection) that they are concerned that i'm diverting or med-seeking and asked them to fax back a form checking off whether they had concerns about my medication tx. It was a DISASTER! I had to rebuilt trust with my psychiatrist (b/c he's naturally petrified of getting in trouble with the dea), explain this whole thing to my insurance company many times (and now i'm writing a letter to them about it, and expressing my fury that they sent it to my coworker who prescribed an antibiotic), and assure all of my other dr's that i'm not med-seeking or diverting (since I don't want to go to freaking jail and this medicine has actually saved my professional career). It's all totally fine now but seriously - BE CAREFUL!!

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I live in Virgina and theres been a ritalin shortage for the past two months.the CVS i normally use has them on back ordered. Luckily WALGREENS has ritalin so far. dont know what i will do when they run out.

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Indeed there is a shortage from the manufacturer. I have not to determine the cause, but I called many, many pharmacies before I found someone that had my fast acting Adderall. It seems the 30mg tablets are the real issue here. Most places had the 15mg and the XR. Since I personally don't have insurance, the XR is not an option (no generic) and the 15mg are actually more expensive (see my other posts). I can also confirm the ritalin shortage. I wouldn't worry too much though. Who knows, maybe the company that makes them had a fire or something that they're not disclosing to the general public. Adderall is such a popular medication and a huge money maker, I doubt it will be taken off the market any time soon.

Don't fret, but do see your doctor about alternatives until your medication is available in your area. There is a couple medications available that may also work for you in the meantime.

A new on on the market is called Stratera, but this is a buildup med, not a take as needed and will be very expensive since it's new and there's no generic. I imagine you need a couple of weeks of regular dosage to see the effects.

Dexedrine, Desoxyn, and Vyvanse are all Amphetamine Salts just like Adderall, although Vyvanse needs to be metabolized just like Stratera.

Concerta and Focalin are Methylphenidates like Ritalin.

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FocusedMom said: Has anyone else experienced this in their area? I just went to my regular pharmacy where I fill my Adderall XR every month and was shocked to hear that the medication was back-ordered!

Thinking it was just that one pharmacy's order issue, I went to another pharmacy. They reported also not having it in stock and that it was a manufacturing shortage. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, is there an online pharmacy that you trust to get it from?

Thanks!

I would stay away from online pharmacies at all costs. Consider alternative medication (see above post). That's actually not why I quoted you though, it was just a side note. I'm quoting you because you're the original poster, and I would like to know if and when your pharmacies get your medications back in stock. This goes for everyone that's posted here.

I for one, did just get my Rx today but I had to search high and low, and a lot of pharmacies that did have some Adderall 30mg left either couldn't fill my Rx, or they barely had enough to fill mine and would be running out very soon.

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It's one of two things. See these sites.

What the pharmaceutical company claims can be found here - http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/health/doctor_jo/adderall-shortage-to-last-through-may-04152011

What may be the real issue can be found here - (basically it could be marketing to increase sales, which is ridiculous because the pharmaceutical giants are already rich and destroying our healthcare system) http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/04/prweb5248694.htm

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I have quite a few patients who have had to use 1/2 strength pills/capsules two at a time. Is seems that it isn't Adderall across the board, but mostly the XR's. Now, even some generics are in short supply. My advice is to be proactive, set an alarm on your cell phone to remind you when you're about, and I mean ABOUT to run out, not after you run out. Then call your doctor, get the prescription early and see if the pharmacist has the meds. Call around, someone in town MUST have some. But be proactive!!!!!

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The video link provided earlier, http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/health/doctor_jo/adderall-shortage-to-last-through-may-04152011 , mentions a toll free number from the manufacturer that you can call to see which pharmacy has adderall. The number is: Adderall XR | Shire | Pharmacy Finder Hotline 800-828-2008 (select option 5.) Hope this helps.

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one thing i recall from about 10 years ago when this was still a new ish med was when this problem ocurred and the doctor was quite helpful-if you find a pharmacy that has a supply - even if it is not what you might normally get-you call then run by your doctor to get an rx for the exact amount of pills and then run[cos the pharmacy won't hold something] ...iseem to remeber needing the exact a

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one thing i recall from about 10 years ago when this was still a new ish med was when this problem ocurred and the doctor was quite helpful-if you find a pharmacy that has a supply - even if it is not what you might normally get-you call then run by your doctor to get an rx for the exact amount of pills and then run[cos the pharmacy won't hold something] ...iseem to remeber needing the exact a

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one thing i recall from about 10 years ago when this was still a new ish med was when this problem ocurred and the doctor was quite helpful-if you find a pharmacy that has a supply - even if it is not what you might normally get-you call then run by your doctor to get an rx for the exact amount of pills and then run[cos the pharmacy won't hold something] ...iseem to remeber needing the exact a

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