DEA allows ramped up production of ADHD meds
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The Biden administration is raising production caps on the sought after ADHD drug Vyvanse and its generic equivalents, in response to a Food and Drug Administration request to address shortages of the prescription stimulant.
Why it matters: Patients nationwide have been scrambling to find a variety of ADHD medications due to soaring demand and federal limits on controlled substances, as well as manufacturing problems.
Driving the news: The Drug Enforcement Administration said in a notice that it is increasing the production quota for Vyvanse and generics by 24%.
- A shortage of the active ingredient lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is the reason identified for the shortages of generic capsules and chewable tablets, per the notice, which was first reported by Bloomberg.
- "These adjustments are necessary to ensure that the United States has an adequate and uninterrupted supply of lisdexamfetamine to meet legitimate patient needs both domestically and globally," the agency wrote.
Catch up quick: Vyvanse, made by Takeda, is not only used for ADHD but prescribed off-label to treat patients with long COVID suffering from brain fog, fatigue and cognitive impairment.
- It's classified as a Schedule II stimulant and subject to production limits because of the potential for abuse.
- The DEA has ramped up oversight of manufacturing plants and prescribers amid concerns about the prospect of another addiction epidemic.
- But the ensuing shortages have created a barrier in the nation's behavioral health system. The FDA in July requested the DEA increase manufacturing quotas to a level deemed necessary to address the shortfalls.
