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Editorial
ADHD medication shortages: more than just a supply issue
  1. Alexandra Lewis1,
  2. Teck K Khong2
  1. 1 Adult ADHD Service, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
  2. 2 Clinical Pharmacology, St George's University of London, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Alexandra Lewis, Adult ADHD Service, Fulbourn Hospital Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Fulbourn, UK; alexandra.lewis{at}nhs.net

https://doi.org/10.1136/dtb.2023.000062

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    In September 2023, NHS England issued a national safety alert in response to shortages of methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine. This followed on from supply problems already being experienced for atomoxetine. As a result, people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been left frustrated, inconvenienced and anxious about the impact such shortages have on their health and well-being. Medicines shortages have become common across several therapeutic areas with underlying causes that are multifactorial and complex.1 In the case of ADHD, they coincide with a surge in demand for medication resulting from increased diagnosis of the condition.2

    ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity that interfere with daily and occupational functioning. There is no pathognomonic marker for ADHD and symptoms overlap with those of other conditions, necessitating careful diagnostic assessment. Usually evident from …

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests None declared. Refer to the online supplementary files to view the ICMJE form(s).

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.