Medical Professionals Reference (MPR)DEA, FDA Address Prescription Stimulant Shortage in Joint Letter

The FDA and DEA provide an update on the efforts being taken to alleviate the shortages in a joint letter.

Amidst a shortage of prescription stimulant medications, the FDA and DEA have issued a joint letter, urging stakeholders to collaborate and ensure patient access to these crucial drugs.

Key Points:

• The shortage began last fall due to a manufacturing delay from a single pharmaceutical company.
• This issue was exacerbated by record-high prescription rates for stimulant medications.
• The DEA sets annual production quotas for these controlled substances.
• Manufacturers did not produce their full quota in 2022, and 2023 shows a similar trend.
• DEA is urging manufacturers to either increase production to meet their quota or relinquish it for redistribution.

Additional Points:

• The FDA suggests reviewing the appropriateness of stimulant prescriptions and considering alternative treatments.
• Alternatives include an FDA-cleared game-based digital therapeutic for children with ADHD and nonstimulant medications.
• The FDA mandated updates to prescription stimulant labels to address concerns of misuse, addiction, and overdose.
• Medical literature indicates that family and friends are the primary sources of prescription stimulants for nonmedical use.

Conclusion:

• Both the FDA and DEA emphasize the importance of ensuring access to stimulant medications while also promoting thoughtful and responsible prescribing.

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