September 12, 2024Vyvanse and its generic equivalents (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) may be more readily available at pharmacies following a decision by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to allow expanded production of the stimulant medication used to treat ADHD and moderate-to-severe binge-eating disorder (BED) in adults.
About one-quarter of the 24% (6,236 kg) production increase in lisdexamfetamine will address domestic demand, and the remaining 75% will address foreign demand.1“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 DEA said in a letter on September 5.The DEA’s decision arrives amid a stimulant shortage that has disrupted treatment for millions of patients with ADHD for nearly two years.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first reported a shortfall of Adderall (the brand name for the immediate-release formulation of amphetamine mixed salts used to treat ADHD) due to manufacturing delays at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in October 2022.
The nationwide Adderall shortage triggered a domino effect, with ADHD patients struggling to fill prescriptions for other stimulant medications, such as Vyvanse and Ritalin.In August 2023, the FDA granted approval for 15 manufacturers to produce generic Vyvanse capsules and chewable tablets after Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ U.S.