How to Help Your Patients Find Vyvanse in Stock: A Provider's Guide

Your patients are frustrated. They've called five pharmacies, been told "we don't have it," and now they're calling your office. If you prescribe Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) for ADHD or binge eating disorder, this guide gives you actionable steps to help your patients find their medication—and streamline the process for your practice.

The Current State of Vyvanse Availability in 2026

Here's the quick snapshot: Brand Vyvanse (Takeda) is not in shortage and is generally available at most pharmacies, though at a higher cost ($400–$558/month without insurance). Generic lisdexamfetamine remains in shortage from some suppliers, despite 11 FDA-approved generic manufacturers and a 24% DEA production quota increase approved in late 2024.

Supply is improving, but the gap between "technically available" and "my patient can fill their prescription today" remains real.

Why Your Patients Still Can't Find Vyvanse

Several factors contribute to ongoing availability challenges:

• Wholesaler allocation limits: Pharmacies can only order a set amount of controlled substances from their wholesalers each period. High-volume pharmacies may hit their limits before meeting patient demand.
• Demand concentration: Certain areas with high ADHD prescribing rates experience more intense supply pressure than others.
• Pharmacy economics: Some pharmacies, particularly chains, may limit controlled substance inventory due to regulatory compliance costs and reimbursement pressures.
• Generic supply inconsistency: Not all 11 approved generic manufacturers are producing at full capacity. Some suppliers report intermittent availability, leading to unpredictable stock levels at the pharmacy level.

What You Can Do to Help Your Patients

Here are five actionable steps you and your team can take:

1. Use the Medfinder Provider Portal

The Medfinder provider portal lets you search for pharmacies with Vyvanse or generic lisdexamfetamine in stock on behalf of your patients. Medfinder's dedicated support team contacts pharmacies directly to verify real-time availability—saving your staff from making dozens of calls.

2. Advise Patients to Plan Ahead

Encourage patients to contact their pharmacy at least one week before their refill is due. This gives the pharmacy time to order stock or for your patient to locate an alternative pharmacy. For a Schedule II controlled substance like Vyvanse, prescriptions cannot be transferred between pharmacies in most states, so planning ahead is especially important.

3. Recommend Trying Independent Pharmacies

Independent pharmacies often use different wholesalers than chain pharmacies and may have more flexibility in ordering controlled substances. They may also carry less common dosage strengths. Encourage your patients to expand their search beyond CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.

4. Prescribe with Flexibility in Mind

When clinically appropriate, discuss dosage flexibility with your patients. If their usual 50mg dose is unavailable, adjacent strengths (40mg or 60mg) may be in stock. Only make this adjustment when medically sound—but knowing that dose-specific shortages exist can inform your prescribing decisions.

5. Ensure Patients Know About Savings Programs

Cost barriers compound availability issues. Make sure your patients know about:

• Takeda savings card: Eligible commercially insured patients may pay as little as $30/month.
• GoodRx and SingleCare: Generic lisdexamfetamine can be as low as $68/month with a discount card.
• Takeda Help at Hand: Patient assistance program for uninsured or underinsured patients.

Alternative Options to Discuss with Patients

If a patient truly cannot access Vyvanse or generic lisdexamfetamine, consider these alternatives based on their clinical profile:

• Adderall XR (mixed amphetamine salts ER): Another long-acting amphetamine-based stimulant. Similar efficacy for ADHD, though it is not FDA-approved for BED.
• Concerta (methylphenidate ER): A long-acting methylphenidate option. Different mechanism (dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor vs. releaser) but well-established efficacy for ADHD.
• Strattera (atomoxetine): A non-stimulant option. Not a controlled substance, so no DEA quota constraints. May be appropriate for patients with substance use history or those who prefer a non-stimulant.

For a comprehensive list of alternatives, see our alternatives to Vyvanse guide.

Streamlining Your Practice Workflow

Medication access issues consume staff time. Here are ways to make the process more efficient:

• Designate a point person: Assign one staff member to handle medication access calls and savings program enrollment.
• Build availability checks into your prescribing process: Before sending a new Vyvanse prescription, use Medfinder to confirm the receiving pharmacy has stock.
• Keep a list of reliable pharmacies: Track which local pharmacies consistently stock Vyvanse and generic lisdexamfetamine. Independent pharmacies are often the most reliable.
• Document shortage-related PA requests: When patients can't access generic and need brand, maintain a template for prior authorization requests citing supply shortages.

Final Thoughts

You're not just a prescriber—you're a patient advocate. In a landscape where medication access is unpredictable, proactive steps from your practice can make the difference between a patient who stays on therapy and one who gives up.

The Medfinder provider portal is designed to help providers like you cut through the noise and find pharmacies with Vyvanse in stock—without the phone tag.

For more on the Vyvanse shortage, see our provider shortage briefing. To help patients manage cost, check out our provider's guide to Vyvanse savings programs.