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\nPhoto: 123RF\n<\/p>\n
A global shortage of ADHD medication has shown two thirds of people surveyed are concerned about how a global shortage will affect work and schooling.<\/p>\n
ADHD New Zealand, a registered charity, conducted a survey of 216 diagnosed people, and more than half said they could not get their hands on the drugs they needed.<\/p>\n
Almost two-thirds said they were unable to perform their jobs properly without the correct medication with around a third worried they might lose their jobs with their workplace performance impacted.<\/p>\n
Spokesperson Darrin Bull told Nine to Noon the shortage was “a perfect storm”, caused by an increase in diagnoses around the world, particularly among women aged 15 to 44 years, and a decrease in production of the medication.<\/p>\n
He said for many people on medication, the shortage translated into concern about performance at work or university, or their children’s behaviour at school.<\/p>\n
He said the shortage was not expected to improve within the year.<\/p>\n
Bull said the survey was conducted following worries people might be turning to the black market for medication and wellbeing concerns around stopping or switching medications.<\/p>\n
Buying medication from other people, including from online marketplaces, was illegal and not recommended, he said.<\/p>\n
“But what we’ve found is that’s not the go-to for our community, which is really really pleasing,” Bull said. “People are talking to their doctors, or they’re starting to ration their medication.”<\/p>\n
In the absence of medication, people who would normally rely on it should focus on lifestyle – exercise, sleep, and eating well.<\/p>\n
“There’s also coaching and counselling about, which has really grown,” he said. “Even meditation; it all helps to calm the brain.<\/p>\n
“The worst thing you can do is think there is no help, and that there’s nothing I can do. There’s lots of options out there.”<\/p>\n
Pharmac said it was working closely with suppliers and clinicians to manage the supply issues.<\/p>\n
“There may be periods in 2025 where people will not be able to get the brand of methylphenidate they normally use,” it said in a statement. “There may also be times where people have to wait for more stock to arrive at their local pharmacy.”<\/p>\n
It said suppliers and wholesalers were limiting the amount of stock going to pharmacies, and doctors had been asked to prioritise children and adolescents for getting methylphenidate as they tended to “tolerate” it better than some of the alternative medicines available for ADHD.<\/p>\n
Clinicians should consider prescribing other brands of methylphenidate or other types of medicines for people with ADHD or narcolepsy where possible.<\/p>\n