Medication shortages — what are you doing?

[Anonymous]

Can you switch to a mail order pharmacy? They tend to have fewer supply chain issues.

Also, if prescribed by a local psychiatrist, they may have ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you switch to a mail order pharmacy? They tend to have fewer supply chain issues.

Also, if prescribed by a local psychiatrist, they may have ideas.

NP, but our CareFirst won’t do mail order for stimulants, although they really push it for other things. They do allow 90-day prescriptions from brick-and-mortar pharmacies, which fits well with our pediatrician’s med-check cycle.

That said, so far we’ve been OK with Vyvanse and generic short-acting Adderall. Fortunately, because of various dosage changes over the past year, we do have a bit of backup stashed away that could be pieced together in a pinch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you switch to a mail order pharmacy? They tend to have fewer supply chain issues.

Also, if prescribed by a local psychiatrist, they may have ideas.

NP, but our CareFirst won’t do mail order for stimulants, although they really push it for other things. They do allow 90-day prescriptions from brick-and-mortar pharmacies, which fits well with our pediatrician’s med-check cycle.

That said, so far we’ve been OK with Vyvanse and generic short-acting Adderall. Fortunately, because of various dosage changes over the past year, we do have a bit of backup stashed away that could be pieced together in a pinch.

Interesting, I have a DC health exchange carefirst plan and have been getting generic Adderall from CVS Caremark (mail order) for several months now.

[Anonymous]

Once when the two closest CVS’s near me couldn’t get one of my prescriptions, the pharmacist recommended a brand new CVS that had just recently opened about a 15 minute drive from me. He told me that brand new stores that are just getting stocked the first time have priority and usually have everything in stock. I got the medication filled there for a few months and then was able to go back to having it filled at my regular CVS. If you know of a new location, they might have Concerta.

Also, try pharmacies that aren’t part of large chains.

[Anonymous]

Could you try ordering from a Canadian pharmacy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t help you now, but in the normal course I take one dose out of every prescription and set it aside in a bottle of back-up meds. Taking out one day doesn’t mess up the refill cycle, but over time I build up a couple of weeks of doses just in case something like this happens.

Every couple of months I switch out the back-ups with the new meds 1-for-1 so the back-ups don’t get stale over time.

This is such a good idea!

[Anonymous]

I feel your pain. Our insurance only covers brand name, not generic. I asked my usual pharmacy to look up in their system what other stores have it in stock. I’ll also ask whether they have something less than the prescribed number and take that. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I just saw in an article that prescriptions for adderral increased 20% in 2022 over 2021 (or maybe it was 2021 over 2020) and the fda is not inclined to increase the production limits, which is part of the reason for the shortages. The article said the increase came in part after the FDA allowed it to be prescribed by telehealth providers during the pandemic.

We have three people in our family with ADHD and only one takes a stimulant medication because he really needs it. I’m so irritated at all the people getting prescriptions for study drugs causing shortages for people who really need it. I also wish they’d crack down on these sketchy telehealth providers that seem to exist to prescribe cipro and adderral. (I’ve seen them advertised and they all but say this.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just saw in an article that prescriptions for adderral increased 20% in 2022 over 2021 (or maybe it was 2021 over 2020) and the fda is not inclined to increase the production limits, which is part of the reason for the shortages. The article said the increase came in part after the FDA allowed it to be prescribed by telehealth providers during the pandemic.

We have three people in our family with ADHD and only one takes a stimulant medication because he really needs it. I’m so irritated at all the people getting prescriptions for study drugs causing shortages for people who really need it. I also wish they’d crack down on these sketchy telehealth providers that seem to exist to prescribe cipro and adderral. (I’ve seen them advertised and they all but say this.).

I understand your frustration and it's a little frightening to think about the telehealth scripts for this stuff. However, PP, I am 99% certain I have ADHD and now that I have young kids I'm finding it impossible to function. Yet I cannot afford to see a psychiatrist because there are none that take my insurance and the process is thousands of dollars to get a Dx and Rx. I am seriously considering going the online route... if I can actually get myself to make the appointment.