Southern Colorado Pharmacies experiencing delays in getting ADHD medications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- The FDA has confirmed a nationwide Adderall shortage. It's a shortage that is impacting pharmacies across Colorado.

According to the Colorado Pharmacists Society, about 80% of the pharmacies in Colorado are chains and the other 20% are independent community pharmacies. They're all experiencing the same issue.

"We have had a lot of new customers calling trying to find their medicine," said Krista Van Lancker, the pharmacy manager at the Medicine Shoppe.

Van Lancer says the shortages come in waves and it's for the name brand Adderall as well as generic brands.

"It’s not all doses, forms, strengths at the same time," said Van Lancker.

The reason behind the shortage is multi-faceted and it starts with labor shortages at the largest manufacturing company. Other companies are having trouble keeping up with the demand, and the increased demand is partly due to telehealth and the pandemic.

"Some of the online mental health providers, some of it’s valid and some of it’s not, so when you couple the increased demand with the shortage of manufacturing and distributing you have the perfect storm for shortages that are impacting patients," said Emily Zadvorny, the executive director at the Colorado Pharmacists Society.

While some pharmacies are having to turn new customers away, The Medicine Shoppe says they're trying to work with all customers as best they can.

"If it’s something that we absolutely can’t get we often make a recommendation to the patient and their doctor for a similar dose or form to get them by until we can get the dose that they need," said Van Lancker.

CVS and Walgreens both said in a statement that they are aware of the shortages and pharmacists will continue to work with patients.

According to the FDA website, some of the manufacturing shortages will last until March.