A practical guide for healthcare providers on helping patients find Viloxazine (Qelbree) in stock. Includes workflow tips, pharmacy strategies, and alternative options for 2026.
Your patients are frustrated, and they're turning to you for help. Finding Viloxazine (Qelbree) at a pharmacy has been a persistent challenge in 2026, and as their prescriber, you're in a unique position to make a difference. This guide provides actionable strategies you can implement in your practice to help patients access this important non-stimulant ADHD medication.
Viloxazine is not on the FDA's drug shortage list. Supernus Pharmaceuticals continues to manufacture Qelbree without reported production constraints. The challenge is at the distribution and pharmacy level — the medication exists in the supply chain but is not consistently stocked at all pharmacies due to its brand-only status and high cost.
This means the problem is solvable: it's a matter of connecting patients with pharmacies that have Viloxazine in stock, rather than waiting for a manufacturing issue to resolve.
Pharmacies purchase medications through wholesalers who allocate inventory based on purchasing history. A pharmacy that hasn't previously stocked Viloxazine regularly will have a lower allocation, making it difficult to get even when they try to order it for a specific patient.
The continued interest in non-stimulant ADHD treatments — partly driven by ongoing stimulant availability challenges — has concentrated demand for Viloxazine. In areas with multiple prescribers shifting patients to non-stimulants, local pharmacies may be unable to keep up.
At $350–$500 per month retail, Viloxazine represents a significant inventory investment for pharmacies. Many choose not to stock it unless they have a confirmed prescription, which creates delays for patients. This is particularly true at chain pharmacies that follow corporate inventory management protocols.
Without a generic alternative, every Viloxazine prescription must be filled with Qelbree. Generic medications are stocked much more broadly because they cost pharmacies less to maintain in inventory. Until a generic enters the market, distribution will remain more limited than typical ADHD medications.
The Medfinder provider portal allows you to search for pharmacies with Viloxazine in stock on behalf of your patients. Their dedicated support team contacts pharmacies to verify availability, saving your staff time and giving patients a concrete next step. Consider making this a standard part of your prescribing workflow for Viloxazine.
Educate patients to contact their pharmacy at least one week before they need a refill. This gives the pharmacy time to order Viloxazine from their wholesaler if it's not currently in stock. Many of the crisis calls your office receives could be prevented with this simple planning step.
Independent pharmacies frequently use different wholesalers than chain pharmacies and have more flexibility in ordering decisions. They may be able to source Viloxazine more easily and are often more willing to make special orders for regular patients. Maintaining a list of independent pharmacies in your area that reliably stock Viloxazine is a valuable practice resource.
When clinically appropriate, consider whether dose flexibility could help with access:
Important: Only make dose-related changes when clinically appropriate and with proper patient counseling.
Cost can compound the access problem — even when patients find a pharmacy with Viloxazine, they may not fill the prescription due to high copays. Proactively connect patients with:
When Viloxazine is genuinely unavailable and a patient needs immediate treatment, consider these non-stimulant alternatives:
When discussing alternatives, frame the conversation around temporary bridging rather than permanent switching, unless the patient and clinical situation warrant a full change in treatment.
To reduce the burden on your practice and improve patient outcomes, consider these workflow improvements:
Assign a staff member (medical assistant, nurse, or care coordinator) as the go-to person for medication access issues. This person can manage savings card enrollments, contact the Medfinder provider portal, and field patient calls about availability — freeing up clinician time.
Before sending a Viloxazine prescription to a pharmacy, consider using the Medfinder provider portal to verify the pharmacy has it in stock. A quick check upfront can prevent the frustration of a rejected or delayed fill.
Maintain an internal list of pharmacies in your area that consistently stock Viloxazine. Update it periodically as availability shifts. Share this list with patients at the point of prescribing, not after they've already had trouble filling the prescription.
Since most insurers require PA for Viloxazine, submit prior authorization documentation as soon as the decision to prescribe is made — don't wait until the patient gets a denial at the pharmacy. Include clear documentation of previous treatment trials and clinical rationale for a non-stimulant option.
Viloxazine availability challenges are manageable with proactive planning and the right tools. As a prescriber, your involvement can make the difference between a patient who gets their medication and one who gives up in frustration.
Key takeaways for your practice:
For the clinical briefing on Viloxazine supply chain dynamics, see our provider shortage briefing. To share with patients, direct them to our patient shortage update.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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