When Albany’s mother, Shannon Roberts, dropped the script for her child in her regular pharmacy, she was surprised to be told they were out of stock.
Access to prescriptions is becoming a problem for many Australians due to the ongoing shortage of multiple medications.
Ms. Roberts’ three children have ADHD, and all of them need medicine.
Shannon Roberts’ home is decorated with positive assertions. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding))
The shortage is time-consuming and frustrating for the whole family.
“I entered all the scripts so they were filled five days before the deadline. [in January] And they couldn’t meet,” Roberts said.
“It’s been really awful ever since.“
This issue is exacerbated by the fact that her child is experiencing side effects from other ADHD medications, making alternatives difficult.
Shannon Roberts tries to get ahead of the end of the script, but that doesn’t help. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding))
“My eldest son is currently on her third medication change, and my second son is waiting to be seen at the clinic in April,” she said.
“My kids had some scary side effects from Ritalin. We were so worried about her mental health that my eldest son lasted a week.”
Drugs missing
The Therapeutics Bureau (TGA) lists 400 drugs deficiencies, including menopause hormone therapy and blood pressure medications.
Another drug lacking is Concerta, one of the most popular ADHD drugs.
Doses of 18mg, 27mg, 34mg, and 54mg are all listed as limited supply.
Jane McLean is an Albany-based pharmacist. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding))
Albany pharmacist Jane McLean said supplies have declined and flowed in recent years.
“Last year, Vyvanse was short for most of the years. Concerta is short this year,” she said.
“We’ve seen more stocks over the past few years than we’ve seen in the last decade or 15 years,” McLean said.
Pharmacist Jane McLean said supply issues are affecting many medications. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding))
Regulations surrounding ADHD drugs can only be filled five days before the last supply runs out to prevent stockpiling.
Roger Paterson, chair of the ADHD WA Clinical Advisory Board, added stress to families, saying it could take months to find the right medicine and prescription for children.
“The bottom row seemed to mean that demand was gradually outweighing supply. There is a shortage of supply all over the world,” he said.
“We’re just experiencing it in our own way in the field of ADHD.”
Australia at the end of the supply chain
The TGA said the lack of concerto supply is likely to continue until December this year.
Australian Pharmacy Guild Washington President Andrew Nageuw said the country is “at the end of a very long and complex global supply chain.”
Andrew Ngeow says Ozempic’s off-label prescriptions have driven strong demand. (ABC Perth: Glynn Jones))
NGEOW said Australia imported 90% of the drugs prescribed, creating 2% of global demand.
“When there is a shortage, we feel it first and the last person to be restocked,” he said.
