Popular ADHD medication, Vyvanse is slowly coming back into stock after a long-term and nationwide shortage.
Vyvanse is a stimulant medication similar to Dexamphetamine, which is used to treat people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD.
The medication reduces hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in people with ADHD, to become more focused and functional.
It is also used to control moderate to severe binge eating in adults.
The drug ranges in doses from 20 milligrams to 70 milligrams, with the dosage of medication needed for ADHD treatment depending on the severity of the individual’s diagnosis.
Some dosages remain in low stock.
“Just today I have had to turn away two people wanting to renew scripts for 40mg, as we just don’t have the stock,” said Perth pharmacist, Andrea Aird.
Aird explained that the shortage is ultimately caused by manufacturing issues as well as supply and demand caused by the increasing number of people being diagnosed with ADHD.
“At times have had very angry customers not being able to purchase the medication they need, as we just don’t have it.”
Complicating matters, Vyvanse is only available from one company, Takeda, and is only manufactured in the United States.
A recent plea from Australian doctors and the company to ramp up production in the US was rejected by the American Drug Enforcement Administration.
Due to the Australian Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the cost of prescription medicines are relatively low for Australians, and it can be more beneficial for companies like Takeda, to sell to other countries without these schemes in place.
Australia can at times therefore be overlooked on a business standpoint and be pushed aside to reel in greater profit for the company from higher paying countries.
Due to inconsistent stock of Vyvanse some patients are having to come off it for periods to make scripts last, and some facing mental health struggles as a result.
Tom Styan (20) who was diagnosed with ADHD in year 10 is one of the thousands of individuals who struggled with this nation-wide shortage of Vyvanse.
“I had to take one pill every three days instead of one every day [as prescribed] in order to stretch my script out, which really affected me mentally as I just couldn’t focus on my off days when I was working or at university,” he said.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns other dosages still affected may still be in short supply until at least March 31.
