If you're like the millions of other Americans that take a stimulant medication like Vyvanse, chances are you have struggled to find a pharmacy with your Vyvanse in stock. The good news is, you're in luck! In this guide, we'll provide an overview of how to find a pharmacy with Vyvanse in stock near you.
Vyvanse is a Schedule II Controlled Substance and part of the Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant class of medications. It’s commonly prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Vyvanse is made up of Lisdexamfetamine, a which is a "prodrug", meaning that remains inactive until it is metabolized in the body. Once ingested, it is converted into dextroamphetamine, the active compound that provides the therapeutic effects. This conversion process results in a slower onset and extended duration of action compared to other stimulants. Vyvanse works by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain—two neurotransmitters that play a key role in attention, focus, and impulse control. The steady release of these chemicals throughout the day can help reduce the likelihood of spikes and crashes in symptom control, which some patients experience with shorter-acting stimulants.
There are tons of reasons that Vyvanse is difficult to find in stock, and we'll try to keep our explainations brief but still informative.
Manufacturing delays and DEA production limits have caused a lot of difficulty in ensuring access to this medication. While the number of ADHD diagnoses continue to grow, the cap on production limits by the DEA stays the same. It is likely that even if manufacturers never had delays, the production limit cap placed by the DEA would likely still make Vyvanse difficult to find near you.
In recent years, the demand for ADHD medications like Vyvanse has grown significantly - outpacing the DEA production cap and creating widespread shortages. In the last 10 years, ADHD diagnoses are estimated to have increased by around 34% in the U.S., while the production caps haven't increased by much at all.
We know it's easy to always blame the pharmacy - but it's not just on them! Pharmacies have limits on the number of controlled substances they are able to order, and also have limits on the number of controlled substance scripts that they are able to fill. Often times, pharmacies are able to get a medication in stock, but aren't always able to take on more patients for a controlled substance like Vyvanse.
It's important to understand what is happening behind the scenes when you pick up your medication from the pharmacy. When you pick up a medication that is covered by your insurance, your pharmacy sends out a claim to your insurance company, and your insurance company pays the pharmacy a pre-negotiated rate for that medication that is specific to your health plan.
Many medications - including many stimulants like Vyvanse, are what we call "Under-Reimbursed" - meaning that the price the pharmacy had to pay to purchase the medications is nearly the same amount (or more) than what they are making by dispensing the medication. Pharmacies actually lose money on prescriptions more often than you would think, and even when they do make money, they don't always make much.
At the end of the day, a pharmacy is still a business, and they have to make money to stay alive. So when drugs are under-reimbursed, they are far more hesitant to stock and dispense them.
This creates false scarcity for a lot of medications like Vyvanse. It's not always just that a pharmacy can't get a medication, but they often make a business decision not to purchase a medication because they know they will lose money if they offer it to patients.
Adderall XR or Extended Release uses a two-phase delivery system where half the dose is released immediately, and the other half is released gradually later in the day. For many individuals with ADHD, this option is more preferable as they don't have to remember to take another dose of their medication as they go through their day. Due to this preference, Adderall XR tends to be more difficult to find in stock than Adderall IR.
Vyvanse, on the other hand, is a prodrug, meaning it is inactive until metabolized by the body. This allows for a smoother and more consistent delivery of the medication throughout the day, with less potential for peaks and crashes. Because of its unique mechanism, Vyvanse has a lower potential for misuse and tends to provide a longer duration of symptom control with once-daily dosing. However, individual responses may vary, and some people may respond better to one medication over the other.
The typical advice you hear is to "just call pharmacies". But we can do better than that! Here are a few good tips and tricks to find Vyvanse In Stock Near You.
Platforms like Medfinder make it easy to search your area for pharmacies that have your medications in stock. All you have to do is enter the medication you're looking for - like "Vyvanse 10mg" - and Medfinder will check all the pharmacies near you to find the closest one that can fill your prescription today. Medfinder is purpose built for finding medications like Vyvanse in stock near you, and has helped thousands find Vyvanse in stock in their neighborhoods.
Often times the big chains are more likely to be out of stock of medications like Vyvanse, and Independent Pharmacies are a great place to start if you are looking to check pharmacies yourself. We hear often that Independent Pharmacies are easier to work with and that many patients prefer them over big chains.
One of the most challenging parts of finding your medication is sitting on hold with the pharmacies. Instead of calling during peak hours (right after work or right when they open) we recommend trying pharmacies on Saturdays. Often times, pharmacies are less busy on the weekend, and it is easier to get right to the person you need to speak with on Saturdays. If you are taking this route, be sure that your healthcare provider is able to send your prescription in to the pharmacy as soon as you locate one that can fill your prescription.
If you've tried everything and still can't manage to find vyvanse in stock, it may make sense to talk to your doctor about other options. Many medications have similar affects to Vyvanse, and there are often times other medication options that can get you through medication shortages. Some other medications that are similar to Vyvanse are:
Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication routine.
Finding Vyvanse in stock near you doesn't have to be so stressful. With tools like Medfinder and a better understanding of how the pharmacy system works, you can cut down the stress and the phone calls, and keep yourself on track with your treatment.