Your patients are telling you the same thing: "I can't find my Adderall XR anywhere." As a prescriber, you're caught in the middle of a supply crisis you didn't create — but your patients are looking to you for solutions.

The Adderall XR shortage has been ongoing since October 2022, and in early 2026, multiple strengths of generic amphetamine salt combo XR remain on back order. This guide provides concrete, actionable steps you can take to help your patients maintain access to their ADHD treatment.

Current Availability Landscape

As of early 2026, the situation varies by dose strength and region:

• Lower doses (5 mg, 10 mg): Generally more available, though not universally in stock.
• Higher doses (15 mg, 25 mg, 30 mg): Remain the most constrained. The 25 mg and 30 mg strengths are frequently back-ordered from multiple manufacturers.
• Brand vs. generic: Both are affected. Generic amphetamine salt combo XR has the same availability issues as brand Adderall XR.
• Geographic variation: Urban areas with more pharmacies tend to have better availability than rural areas.

Why Patients Can't Find It

The shortage stems from a perfect storm of factors that providers should understand:

1. Demand outpaced supply. ADHD diagnoses and stimulant prescriptions surged during the telehealth expansion of 2020–2022. Demand remains elevated.
2. DEA production quotas constrain manufacturing. Schedule II aggregate production quotas limited how quickly manufacturers could respond. The DEA raised quotas by 25% in October 2025, but the effect is still catching up.
3. Manufacturing disruptions. Teva and other major generic producers experienced production delays that compounded the supply gap.
4. Pharmacy-level ordering limits. Individual pharmacies face caps on how much Schedule II medication they can order, creating local stock-outs even when national supply exists.

What Providers Can Do: 5 Practical Steps

Step 1: Help Patients Locate Available Stock

The single most impactful thing you can do is direct patients to Medfinder for Providers. This tool shows real-time pharmacy availability for Adderall XR by location. You can:

• Check availability during the appointment and send the prescription to a pharmacy that has stock
• Share the Medfinder link with patients so they can check on their own
• Use it to identify independent pharmacies in your area that may have better access

Step 2: Prescribe Flexibly

Dose flexibility can make the difference between a filled and unfilled prescription:

• Prescribe available strengths. If 30 mg capsules are unavailable, consider writing for two 15 mg capsules or three 10 mg capsules to achieve the same daily dose.
• Consider Adderall IR as a bridge. The immediate-release formulation may be more available. Convert the XR daily dose into 2–3 divided IR doses.
• Document the shortage context. Note in the chart that any dose adjustments are due to supply constraints, not clinical instability.

Step 3: Have a Therapeutic Alternative Ready

Proactively discuss backup medications with your patients before they run out:

• Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine): Generic available since 2023. Prodrug mechanism, up to 14 hours. Approximate conversion: Adderall XR 20 mg ≈ Vyvanse 50 mg. Cost: $30–$50/month generic with coupon.
• Concerta (Methylphenidate ER): Different drug class. Good option for patients open to trying methylphenidate. Generic: $15–$40/month with coupon.
• Mydayis: Same amphetamine salts, triple-bead formulation, up to 16 hours. Brand only. May be easier to find due to lower prescribing volume.
• Strattera (Atomoxetine): Non-stimulant. Not a controlled substance. Takes 4–6 weeks for full effect. Good for patients with comorbid anxiety or substance use concerns.

See our patient-facing alternatives guide for a resource you can share.

Step 4: Address Cost Barriers

During a shortage, patients may need to fill at a different pharmacy — sometimes out of network or at a higher cost. Help them navigate this:

• Recommend discount coupons: GoodRx and SingleCare can reduce generic Adderall XR costs to $17–$26 for a 30-day supply.
• Refer to patient assistance: The Teva Cares Foundation provides free medications to qualifying uninsured patients. NeedyMeds.org is a comprehensive directory.
• Contact insurance on the patient's behalf: During documented shortages, many plans will authorize out-of-network fills or therapeutic substitutions without prior authorization.

Point patients to our savings guide for Adderall XR.

Step 5: Communicate Proactively

Patients in the middle of a shortage feel anxious and abandoned. Simple communication goes a long way:

• Acknowledge the shortage directly — patients need to know it's not their fault.
• Provide a clear backup plan before they run out.
• Make it easy for patients to reach you if they can't fill their prescription — consider a nurse line, patient portal message, or dedicated callback for shortage-related issues.
• Set expectations about timeline: "This shortage is ongoing, but we have a plan."

Alternatives at a Glance

For quick reference during appointments:

• Vyvanse (generic): Closest amphetamine alternative. $30–$50/month. Good availability.
• Concerta (generic): Methylphenidate class. $15–$40/month. Generally available.
• Mydayis (brand): Same ingredients as Adderall XR. $300–$400/month. Less commonly prescribed, may be easier to find.
• Strattera (generic): Non-stimulant. $15–$45/month. No DEA restrictions. 4–6 week onset.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

• Bookmark Medfinder for Providers on clinic computers for quick availability checks.
• Create a shortage protocol that your front desk and nursing staff can follow when patients call about unfilled prescriptions.
• Keep a list of independent pharmacies in your area that reliably stock controlled substances.
• Use e-prescribing flexibility. When a patient reports their pharmacy is out of stock, have a process to quickly cancel and re-send the prescription to a pharmacy that has availability.
• Schedule follow-ups proactively. Patients on alternative medications during the shortage may need more frequent check-ins to monitor response and side effects.

Final Thoughts

The Adderall XR shortage is a systems-level problem, but providers are on the front line of helping patients manage its impact. By prescribing flexibly, leveraging real-time availability tools like Medfinder for Providers, maintaining a short list of therapeutic alternatives, and communicating proactively with patients, you can make a meaningful difference in treatment continuity.

For a broader overview of the shortage, including timeline and policy context, see our provider shortage briefing. For help with patient cost concerns, see our provider guide to helping patients save money on Adderall XR.