The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reported a nationwide shortage of methylphenidate (Ritalin, Methylin, and generic) and amphetamine mixed salts (Adderall and generic), stimulants commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults.

The FDA tightly regulates the drugs, which are classified as controlled substances by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The agency doesn’t clearly identify the cause of the shortage, though demand for the drugs has grown recently as more and more kids are being diagnosed with ADHD, and their popularity grows among people, particularly college students, who take them to improve concentration.

The FDA expects supplies to increase somewhat in the next several weeks. In the meantime, the shortage doesn’t affect all brands and dosages equally, or all geographic areas. So if you’re having a hard time filling a prescription ask your doctor about alternative drugs or about getting the drug from a different part of the country. That might be easier at large chain pharmacies, such as at Target or Walgreens.

Read our advice on managing ADHD, and our Best Buy Drugs recommendations for ADHD drugs.

Source
Current Drug Shortages [FDA]