A dad is worried his son will run out of ADHD medication with changes on the way to who can prescribe the drugs. Photo: AFP / Thom Leach / Science Photo Library
The father of a boy using ADHD medication is rationing his son's medication because of drug shortages and is worried things will get worse when new prescribing rules are introduced.
From next year GPs and specialist nurses will be able to diagnose and prescribe medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Currently, they require the written recommendation of a psychiatrist or paediatrician to start prescribing ADHD medications, which can takes months.
ADHD drugs include Methylphenidate hydrochloride, that is also marketed as a ritalin, concerta, rubifen and teva.
Currently there is a worldwide shortage of the drugs. Pharmac's website shows there's no stock for nine types of the drugs and low stock for two others. Half a dozen others have no supply issues.
In a note added yesterday the drug buying agency said suppliers and wholesalers were also limiting the amount of stock going to pharmacies.
Auckland dad Craig has a 10-year-old son who takes one of the ADHD medications that has supply problems.
He told Checkpoint his family had been experiencing shortages of the medication for almost 18 months.
"The last two times, directly, I've gone in to get it and there's actually none there. And the last time we had this was just last week and now there's effectively none 'till the end of July."
He said they used the medication to help his son to concentrate at school, and now they were having to piece together whatever leftover drugs they could find to last them for the next month.
"We've had so many changes of the different types of medicine we've got little bits and pieces left over that we've managed to cobble together for the next few weeks after the school holidays, but obviously that's not ideal."
But these drugs weren't the first choice prescription for his son.
"Different types of drugs last for extended periods, some of them which are better, and some are short-lasting, it's not really ideal... it just concerns me that it could get worse and it is a big deal for him."
Craig said the type of medication his son was currently on had been hugely helpful, and when taking other types his mood and concentration could suffer.
"This particular type that he's on now has been really helpful and it just, you know, keeps him more focused, right through the day. Other ones he'll drop off a bit quickly... that is a concern."
Pharmac said rising demand and overseas manufacturing constraints had led to ongoing supply issues for ADHD medicines, and it was working with suppliers to secure more stock.
Craig said while he was supportive of the recently announced changes around diagnosing and prescribing ADHD medication, he was now concerned the medication might be even harder to come by.
"It took a while for this diagnosis to come through. It takes a lot of work, probably about a year or so, and a lot of people involved and a bit of expense for us at the time.
"So I think it's a great thing that this might be able to be, you know, available for people quicker.
"Everyone should get [the medication], and particularly, you know, use it wisely and as [how] it's supposed to be used.
"But there's definitely a supply issue and all I could see from hearing [about the changes] was that it can only get worse."
Pharmac's Director of Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon, said the recently announced changes making it easier for people to be diagnosed and prescribed stimulants for ADHD were delayed until February 2026 to give the health system more time to prepare, and improve supply of medicines.
She said Pharmac was not expecting a significant short-term increase in the amount of people being diagnosed with ADHD or using ADHD stimulant medicines because of the changes.
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