ADHD drugs have been in short supply for years, and the FDA has warned of shortages in 2022 (Photo: Getty Images)
The US Drug Enforcement Administration has increased the production limit for Vyvanse, Takeda Pharmaceutical’s ADHD drug and their generic versions by approximately 24 percent to address the current shortage in the country.
The move follows a request from the FDA in July, according to the DEA.
While ADHD medications have been in short supply for years, the FDA warned of a shortage of Adderall from Israel-based drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in October 2022, hit by manufacturing delays, leading to a surge in demand and subsequent shortage of Takeda’s Vyvanse.
According to NBC News, the production limit for lisdexamfetamine was increased by 6,236 kilograms, which includes 1,558 kilograms to address increased domestic demand and 4,678 kilograms for increased foreign demand for finished-dose drugs, the DEA reported. “These adjustments are necessary to ensure that the United States has an adequate and uninterrupted supply of lisdexamfetamine to meet the legitimate needs of patients domestically and globally,” the DEA said.
The FDA approved generic versions of Vyvanse from 11 drugmakers, including U.S.-based Mallinckrodt and Viatris, Britain’s Hikma Pharmaceuticals and India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, last year after Takeda lost exclusivity over the drug.
What is Vyvanse?
Vyvanse, also known as lisdexamfetamine, is classified by the DEA as a Schedule II controlled substance, which applies to drugs considered to have a high likelihood of being abused, and additional prescribing safeguards are in place.
It is commonly used to treat ADHD (a condition that affects people’s ability to focus and control themselves) and binge eating disorder (a condition in which people cannot stop eating, even when they feel very full). Lisdexamfetamine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider. According to the FDA, it is part of a group of medications known as stimulants, which help increase attention and decrease impulsivity in people with ADHD.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 7 million or 11.4 percent of American children ages 3 to 17 have ever been diagnosed with ADHD in a national survey of parents.
What is the dosage?
Lisdexamfetamine is available as Vyvanse and generic lisdexamfetamine in the following dosage forms that are taken by mouth.
- Chewable tablets of 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg and 60 mg
- 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg oral capsules
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to concentrate, stay still, and control their impulses. It is one of the most common mental disorders in children, with symptoms such as:
Inattention
Not being able to concentrate
Hyperactivity
Excessive movement not appropriate for the environment.
Impulsiveness
Act without thinking
Concern
Feeling nervous all the time
Speaking out of turn
Responding abruptly and interrupting others
Mood swings
Irritability and bad temper
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