Students with ADHD urged to fill prescriptions before exams due to shortages

Ken Kilbride, the chief executive of ADHD Ireland, said: 'We’d call on parents, say if you have a child doing the Leaving Certificate in the next month, just to check and make sure their medication is available. Check now.'

Students with ADHD and their parents are being urged to get their prescriptions filled in advance of their Leaving and Junior Certificates amid a rolling shortage the crucial medications.

The students are the latest to be affected by medication shortages, which have worsened since the pandemic disrupted supply chain lines.

It is also believed growing awareness of ADHD is leading to more diagnosis of the condition and that is also putting pressure on supply globally.

Ken Kilbride, the chief executive of ADHD Ireland, said: “We’d call on parents, say if you have a child doing the Leaving Certificate in the next month, just to check and make sure their medication is available. Check now.” 

He said the medications help the teens improve their focus and concentrate.

“Then suddenly you go to get your prescription at the start of June and you find it’s not available. That’s going to be a problem," he predicted.

It has been estimated ADHD affects about 5% of the Irish population.

“There is that increased demand now which is obviously adding to the challenge as well,” he said.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority’s list of shortages on Monday included Ritalin LA capsules in two sizes due to manufacturing delays. Tyvense 60mg capsules are out of stock for the same reason. Neither are expected back before June. 

It also shows Atomoxetine tablets out of stock in four sizes due to an unexpected increase in demand. The HPRA is waiting for an update from this manufacturer.

All three are ADHD medications.

Mr Kilbride said: “It’s been coming up for the last 12 months or so, for adults and children. There has been rolling shortages of different medications and there’s never any advance warning around it.” 

He emphasised patients needed time to get a new prescription, saying: "I was talking to a clinician who works in the area and she was saying the amount of admin this has added over the past year is unbelievable." 

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A HSE spokeswoman said mental health services were notified when shortages occurred and guidance provided through the Medicines Criticality Assessment Group. This covers alternative prescribing and dose adjustments.

“Patients should discuss their treatment and medication with their GP and treating clinician,” she advised.

The European Medicines Agency said: “There has been an unexpected increase in demand for medicines used to treat ADHD which cannot be met by the current manufacturing capacity." 

It said this and “manufacturing issues for several ADHD medicines” are behind the shortages.