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FDA Receives Complaints On Pharmacies Low On ADHD Drugs

By Michelle Durham

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Over the past few months, the Food and Drug Administration has had to wade through hundreds of complaints from patients saying they could not find a pharmacy with enough Ritalin or Adderall to fill their prescription. A local pharmacy official comments on whether we are seeing shortages in this area or not.

Ashley Flower, a Rite Aid spokesperson, says they, like many companies in the industry, are facing challenges in maintaining supplies of immediate release form of Adderall, but not the extended version.

"If and when we are out of stock temporarily we go within our network and even outside whether it's going to a competitor to meet our patient's needs," she said.

What happens if there is not enough medication in the store to fill a patient's prescription?

"We do work with our pharmacists and our patients and their physician and their health care team to determine a switch to the extended release if that is appropriate or another substitution that may work for their treatment," she explained.

Flower said patients with any questions should never hesitate to ask their pharmacists for advice. They receive years of training and can answer any questions you may have about your medicine.

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