Your Patients Are Struggling to Find Adderall IR — Here's How You Can Help

If you prescribe Adderall IR (mixed Amphetamine Salts, immediate-release), you've likely heard from patients who can't find their medication. The shortage — now stretching into its fourth year — has placed an enormous burden on patients and the clinical teams who support them.

While prescribers can't single-handedly solve a supply-chain crisis, there are concrete steps you can take to reduce treatment disruptions and help your patients maintain access to their medication.

This guide outlines the current availability landscape, explains why patients are struggling, and provides five practical steps your practice can implement today.

Current Availability of Adderall IR

As of early 2026, Adderall IR remains in an active shortage, though conditions have improved:

• The DEA increased d-amphetamine production quotas by 25% in October 2025 and finalized further increases for 2026
• Multiple generic manufacturers have expanded production
• Spot shortages persist, particularly for 20 mg and 30 mg tablets
• Availability varies significantly by region and pharmacy type

For the full timeline and regulatory context, see our provider briefing on the Adderall IR shortage.

Why Patients Can't Find Their Medication

Understanding the barriers your patients face helps you provide more effective guidance:

Pharmacy Ordering Limits

Large chain pharmacies operate under corporate controlled-substance ordering caps. Even if a distributor has supply, the pharmacy may be unable to order more until the next allocation cycle.

Distributor Allocation Models

Drug distributors allocate Schedule II substances based on historical purchasing patterns. Pharmacies with growing patient populations — or those in areas with newly expanded telehealth access — may receive allocations that don't match current demand.

Strength-Specific Shortages

Not all dosage strengths are equally constrained. The 20 mg and 30 mg tablets face the most significant supply gaps, while lower strengths (5 mg, 10 mg) may be available.

Patient-Level Barriers

Patients are often unaware that independent pharmacies may have better supply, don't know how to check availability before visiting a pharmacy, and may feel uncomfortable calling multiple pharmacies to ask about controlled substances.

What Providers Can Do: 5 Practical Steps

Step 1: Prescribe with Dose Flexibility in Mind

When clinically appropriate, consider prescribing dosage strengths that are more readily available. For example:

• If 20 mg tablets are unavailable, prescribe 10 mg tablets with instructions to take two per dose
• If 30 mg tablets are backordered, a combination of 20 mg + 10 mg (or three 10 mg tablets) may be sourced more easily
• Document the clinical rationale for the dose combination in the patient's chart

This small adjustment can make the difference between a patient getting their medication and going without.

Step 2: Direct Patients to Availability Tools

Medfinder for Providers allows you and your staff to help patients identify pharmacies that currently have Adderall IR in stock. You can:

• Check availability during the office visit and send the prescription to a pharmacy that has it
• Provide patients with the Medfinder link so they can check availability themselves
• Reduce the volume of "can you help me find a pharmacy" calls to your practice

Step 3: Recommend Independent Pharmacies

Independent pharmacies often have more flexibility than chain pharmacies in ordering controlled substances. They can work with multiple wholesalers and are not subject to the same corporate ordering caps. If your practice doesn't already maintain a list of reliable independent pharmacies in your area, consider building one.

Ask your patients which pharmacies have been able to fill their prescriptions successfully — this crowdsourced information can help your entire patient panel.

Step 4: Establish Contingency Protocols

For patients on Adderall IR, proactively discuss backup plans at every visit:

• Identify an alternative agent in advance. Know which medication you'd switch to if Adderall IR becomes unavailable (e.g., Dextroamphetamine IR, Lisdexamfetamine, or Methylphenidate IR)
• Write a contingency prescription if your state allows it, or at minimum, document the plan so a quick phone or telehealth follow-up can facilitate a switch
• Set expectations. Let patients know that you're aware of the shortage, you have a plan, and they should contact your office early if they're having trouble filling their prescription

Step 5: Advocate for Timely Refills

Educate patients on the importance of requesting refills early — most states allow Schedule II prescriptions to be filled a few days before the current supply runs out. Early refill requests give pharmacies more time to source the medication and reduce the risk of treatment gaps.

Consider having your staff send refill reminders 5 to 7 days before a patient's estimated refill date.

When to Consider Alternative Medications

If a patient has been unable to fill Adderall IR for more than one to two weeks, a temporary or longer-term medication switch may be warranted. The most common alternatives include:

• Dextroamphetamine IR (Dexedrine): Closest pharmacological match. Minimal dose adjustment needed.
• Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse): Once-daily amphetamine prodrug. Generic now available. Good option for patients who want simpler dosing.
• Methylphenidate IR (Ritalin): Different stimulant class. Widely available and inexpensive. May require dose titration.
• Atomoxetine (Strattera): Non-stimulant. Not a controlled substance. Best for patients with comorbid anxiety or substance use concerns.

For a detailed comparison, see our post on alternatives to Adderall IR.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

Small operational changes can significantly reduce shortage-related disruption:

• Add a shortage flag to patient charts for those on Adderall IR so staff can proactively check availability before writing prescriptions
• Designate a staff member to handle controlled substance availability inquiries — this prevents the task from falling through the cracks
• Maintain a pharmacy contact list with notes on which pharmacies have been reliable for Adderall IR — update it monthly
• Use e-prescribing flexibility — if one pharmacy is out of stock, you can quickly void and re-send the prescription to a pharmacy that has supply
• Bookmark Medfinder for Providers for quick availability checks during patient visits

Final Thoughts

The Adderall IR shortage is a systemic problem that no individual provider can solve — but the steps above can meaningfully reduce its impact on your patients. By prescribing flexibly, leveraging availability tools, maintaining contingency plans, and guiding patients to reliable pharmacies, you can help ensure treatment continuity even during supply disruptions.

The shortage is improving, and the DEA's quota increases for 2025–2026 are a significant step in the right direction. In the meantime, proactive planning and open communication with patients remain the most effective clinical tools at your disposal.

For the full regulatory and clinical context, see our provider briefing on the Adderall IR shortage. For cost-related resources to share with patients, see how to help patients save money on Adderall IR.