Over 6 million children and 4.4% of adults in the US have ADHD, making the right medication selection critical for managing symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. With ongoing ADHD medication shortages in 2025, finding your prescribed stimulant or non-stimulant medication in stock has become increasingly challenging for patients across the country.
This complete ADHD medication guide covers FDA-approved treatment options and outlines how to find pharmacies with your specific prescription in stock near you.
When choosing ADHD stimulant medications, you're selecting between two distinct chemical families that work through similar mechanisms but may affect individuals differently:
Methylphenidate-Based Medications (Ritalin Family): Popular brands include Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, and Quillivant XR. These medications contain methylphenidate hydrochloride as the active ingredient and are often the first-line treatment for newly diagnosed ADHD patients.
Amphetamine-Based Medications (Adderall Family): This group includes Adderall, Vyvanse, and Mydayis, which combine different amphetamine salts (levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine) for symptom control. These medications are typically stronger than methylphenidate options, requiring lower doses.
Both medication families work as central nervous system stimulants by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which helps improve focus, reduce hyperactivity, and better manage impulsive behaviors in children and adults with ADHD.
The current nationwide shortage of ADHD medications means many patients struggle to fill prescriptions at their usual pharmacy. Whether you're prescribed generic or brand-name methylphenidate or amphetamine medications, having strategies to locate available stock is essential for maintaining consistent treatment.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Methylphenidate is the active ingredient in the following medications:
Methylphenidate is typically available in the following dosage forms:
Amphetamine is the active ingredient in the following medications:
Amphetamine is typically available in the following dosing forms:
ADHD is highly treatable with the right medication approach. The key is working with your healthcare provider to identify the medication group and specific drug that best suits your unique situation. Once you find an effective medication within a particular category, consistency is crucial for maintaining symptom control. Consistent use is made challenging when there are supply issues at your local pharmacies, which is why it is important to have effective strategies for finding medication in stock near you.
Pro tip - If you can’t find your ADHD medication in stock, you can use Medfinder’s online medication locator tool to find the closest pharmacy that has your prescription in stock.
If you’d like to know more about finding ADHD medication and why it might be out of stock, please see our latest article: Why Are ADHD Medications Frequently Out of Stock?
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