A clinical briefing on the Amphetamine XR shortage in 2026 for prescribers. Covers timeline, DEA quotas, prescribing strategies, and patient access tools.
The ongoing shortage of amphetamine-based ADHD medications continues to create significant challenges for providers and their patients. Extended-release amphetamine formulations — including Dyanavel XR, Adzenys XR-ODT, and Adzenys ER — remain particularly difficult for patients to obtain due to their brand-only status and single-manufacturer supply chain.
This article provides an updated clinical overview of the shortage landscape, its implications for prescribing, and practical tools to help your patients maintain treatment continuity.
The ADHD stimulant shortage began in October 2022, initially centered on Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) and quickly expanding to affect most amphetamine-based products. Key milestones:
The shortage creates several practical challenges in clinical practice:
When a patient's preferred formulation is unavailable, providers must consider therapeutic alternatives. Key conversion considerations for Amphetamine XR:
Brand-name Amphetamine XR products frequently require prior authorization and may be subject to step therapy requirements (i.e., trial and failure of generic alternatives first). The shortage has made this process more burdensome, as patients may need multiple PA attempts across different medications.
Consider documenting shortage-related medication changes clearly in patient records to support PA appeals.
Schedule II prescriptions cannot be called in to pharmacies in most states and generally cannot be transferred. This means patients who find stock at a different pharmacy may need a new prescription sent electronically. Streamlining your e-prescribing workflow can reduce delays.
As of early 2026:
Cost remains a significant barrier for brand-name Amphetamine XR formulations:
The Tris Pharma Savings Card (coupon.trisadhd.com) offers commercially insured patients a copay as low as $20. Cash-paying patients may qualify for reduced pricing on their first fill.
For patients with financial hardship, resources like NeedyMeds.org and RxAssist.org can help identify patient assistance options. See our provider's guide to helping patients save money on Amphetamine XR.
Medfinder offers a provider-facing tool that helps you and your patients identify pharmacies with current stock of Amphetamine XR. Recommend it as part of your standard discharge or prescription workflow during the shortage.
Direct patients to these resources:
The DEA's increased 2026 production quotas should gradually improve supply, but the gap between production capacity and demand is unlikely to close quickly. Providers should plan for continued intermittent availability of brand-name Amphetamine XR products through at least mid-2026.
Key developments to watch:
Managing ADHD treatment during an extended medication shortage requires flexibility, proactive communication, and awareness of the full range of available options. By staying current on the supply landscape and using tools like Medfinder for Providers, you can help your patients maintain treatment continuity even when their preferred formulation is hard to find.
For the patient-facing version of this update, see our Amphetamine XR shortage update for patients.
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