Consumer Reports: Drug shortages soon resolved

A drug shortage is hitting a common medication for attention deficit disorder, leading pharmacists to turn some customers away.

Posted 7:52 p.m. Apr 5, 2012 — Updated 7:58 p.m. Apr 5, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — An FDA spokesperson told Consumer Reports Thursday that shortages of medicines for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), such as Ritalin or Adderall, will soon be remedied.

The drugs, commonly prescribed to help people organize their thoughts and focus on schoolwork and other daily tasks, have been in short supply since late last year. A manufacturer of the generic form of Adderall blamed the federal Drug Enforcement Agency for the shortage, but pharmacist Mike James, who works at Person Street Pharmacy, said it's not clear that the DEA is merely tracking drugs like Adderall more closely to avoid abuse.

In January, the DEA lifted some of the limit on Adderall ingredients, a move that should play out with more of the drug becoming available, according to Consumer Reports.

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