On February 13, 2014, the manufacturers of Focalin and its generic equivalent dexmethylphenidate announced a shortage in drug supply due to increased demand for the product. Novartis, the makers of brand name Focalin, have resolved their backorder, but Teva, the maker of dexmethylphenidate, projects the shortage to last into at least August. This follows on the heels of a shortage in supply of methylphenidate (Ritalin), which has been on and off backorder since last year.
What you can do.
Your first step will be to see if your pharmacy (or any other pharmacy nearby and covered by your insurance) carries the medication in any other form or dosage. If you can take the same medication but just in different tablet sizes; that is usually the safest route to take. You will need a new prescription, from your doctor and possibly authorization from your insurer. Beware of internet suppliers. Since this drug is a controlled substance, there are many illegal pharmacies preying on addicts and others desperate for their medication.
If you have to switch from generic to brand (or vice versa), the main issue may be a price increase. Most patients do not notice a difference in how they feel between brand and generic, but some do, so if you have to switch due to shortages, be sure to keep tabs on symptoms and make appropriate adjustments. If your child is taking the medication, be sure to check in with his or her teacher no more than a week after making the change.
If you are forced to consider a different medication, medications which are the most similar are the following, in order of similarity:
Dexmethylphenidate IR (Focalin)
methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Adderall
dexamphetamine (Dexedrine)
Dexmethylphenidate ER (Focalin XR)
methylphenidate (Concerta)
lisdexamphetamine (Vyvanse)
And of course, make sure you check behavior and side effects after the switch. Usually a few days is sufficient to know if you will tolerate a new medication, but sustained release preparations occasionally show side effects up to 6-8 weeks after the switch is made.
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