I have an Adderal prescription which I’ve been fulfilling at Bartells pharmacy for several years.
In the last six months they’ve told me twice, “yes you’re due for a refill but we don’t have and and don’t know when it will come in. We’ll put you on the waitlist.”
In each case it took more than 10 days of me checking back with them before I was told, yes we have some but your prescription has expired, go see your doctor.
I’m quite surprised at how the withdrawal is characterized. Y several days of fatigue and then the old disorientation of ADD.
I hesitated to take it again when I had it, but I feel so much better focused and less hyper when I have it.
Daily roadblock and aggravation communicating with pharmacies: "We cannot disclose our stock quantity unless an order is sent". Time wasted for everyone involved sending multiple orders, having them cancelled and resent. This is my new work flow.
I see patients from 9 states - in all states, I have had patients experiencing issues with all sorts of stimulants - not JUST adderall XR - to include the lowly Ritalin, and have a few patients experiencing these supply chain issues affecting several other medications.
I have several clients in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and environs who have had great difficulty. I sent one to talk to the pharmacist at the independent drug store I use and he said it's everywhere. Another client who is being tapered off Klonopin said he heard Capsule pharmacy delivers. I work at a community mental health clinic where we were just notified that any client who is using a controlled substance will have to meet face to face with their prescriber, per edict from the DEA. The great majority of our clients have been seeing their providers virtually since spring 2020. Phone sessions will no longer be covered after 5/1, which is burdensome to some of my elderly clients who are not at all technically adept. But that's another story.
"We’ve gone through this before, but I forgot how you handled it, how do I get my medication when it’s out of stock? How do I check other pharmacies? "
"The Adderall shortage has been a problem for many of my patients as well. The shortage is a national issue. I have had limited success using other pharmacies. However, this hasn’t been working as well recently.
In addition, the shortage has had a ripple affect to other stimulants. At times, it has been necessary to prescribe a different treatment option in appropriate circumstances. This usually has worked well for my patients. "
Your comment has been sent for review. This process is dependent on agency public submission policies/procedures and processing times. Once the agency has posted your comment, you may view it on Regulations.gov using your Comment Tracking Number.
Agency: DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation
Document ID: DEA-2023-0029-0001
Comment:
Dear DEA Representatives, As a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist practicing in the state of New York, I am writing to express my strong support for the implementation of a national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances. My experience managing the mental health of children and adolescents has led me to witness firsthand the detrimental effects of shortages in essential medications, particularly stimulant medications, on my patients' well-being. Over the past several months, I have routinely faced difficulties in ensuring that my patients receive the medications they require for the effective management of their conditions. These shortages have compelled me to send prescriptions to four to five different pharmacies across multiple states in which I currently hold licenses. This process not only places an unnecessary burden on me as a provider, but also results in delays and potential disruptions in the continuity of care for my patients. A national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances would address several of these challenges by streamlining the prescription process and increasing access to essential medications for patients. By leveraging telehealth technology, healthcare providers could prescribe controlled substances electronically and securely, reducing the need to coordinate with multiple pharmacies across different states. Additionally, this program would facilitate better monitoring of prescription patterns, helping to minimize the risks of drug diversion and misuse. In light of the ongoing medication shortages and the increasing demand for remote healthcare services, the implementation of a national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances is not only necessary, but also timely. This program would enable healthcare providers like myself to more efficiently manage our patients' medications, ensuring that they receive the care they need without undue delays or complications. Thank you for your consideration of this critical issue. I hope that the DEA will take the necessary steps to develop and implement a national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances, thereby enhancing the quality of care for patients across the United States.
Daily shortages significantly affecting my patients functioning. I have numerous college students failing tests and classes because of insufficient supply. I have patients struggling to drive and posing safety issues to others on the road without consistent access to medications. My nurses are spending hours each week calling around to pharmacies checking on supplies which leaves them less time to address other acute psychiatric concerns.
I have an Adderal prescription which I’ve been fulfilling at Bartells pharmacy for several years.
In the last six months they’ve told me twice, “yes you’re due for a refill but we don’t have and and don’t know when it will come in. We’ll put you on the waitlist.”
In each case it took more than 10 days of me checking back with them before I was told, yes we have some but your prescription has expired, go see your doctor.
I’m quite surprised at how the withdrawal is characterized. Y several days of fatigue and then the old disorientation of ADD.
I hesitated to take it again when I had it, but I feel so much better focused and less hyper when I have it.
Daily roadblock and aggravation communicating with pharmacies: "We cannot disclose our stock quantity unless an order is sent". Time wasted for everyone involved sending multiple orders, having them cancelled and resent. This is my new work flow.
I see patients from 9 states - in all states, I have had patients experiencing issues with all sorts of stimulants - not JUST adderall XR - to include the lowly Ritalin, and have a few patients experiencing these supply chain issues affecting several other medications.
I have several clients in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and environs who have had great difficulty. I sent one to talk to the pharmacist at the independent drug store I use and he said it's everywhere. Another client who is being tapered off Klonopin said he heard Capsule pharmacy delivers. I work at a community mental health clinic where we were just notified that any client who is using a controlled substance will have to meet face to face with their prescriber, per edict from the DEA. The great majority of our clients have been seeing their providers virtually since spring 2020. Phone sessions will no longer be covered after 5/1, which is burdensome to some of my elderly clients who are not at all technically adept. But that's another story.
Virtual SUD provider layoffs:
https://bhbusiness.com/2023/04/07/virtual-sud-provider-workit-lays-off-100-employees-in-anticipation-of-dea-crackdown/
March 25th: my patient...
"We’ve gone through this before, but I forgot how you handled it, how do I get my medication when it’s out of stock? How do I check other pharmacies? "
From a colleague: March 9th:
"The Adderall shortage has been a problem for many of my patients as well. The shortage is a national issue. I have had limited success using other pharmacies. However, this hasn’t been working as well recently.
In addition, the shortage has had a ripple affect to other stimulants. At times, it has been necessary to prescribe a different treatment option in appropriate circumstances. This usually has worked well for my patients. "
From colleague:
"Have a teen who I switched from concerta to ritalin LA due to the shortage"
My dea open comment period report reciept.
Your comment was submitted successfully!
Comment Tracking Number: lfa-0w0p-5rfg
Your comment has been sent for review. This process is dependent on agency public submission policies/procedures and processing times. Once the agency has posted your comment, you may view it on Regulations.gov using your Comment Tracking Number.
Agency: DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation
Document ID: DEA-2023-0029-0001
Comment:
Dear DEA Representatives, As a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist practicing in the state of New York, I am writing to express my strong support for the implementation of a national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances. My experience managing the mental health of children and adolescents has led me to witness firsthand the detrimental effects of shortages in essential medications, particularly stimulant medications, on my patients' well-being. Over the past several months, I have routinely faced difficulties in ensuring that my patients receive the medications they require for the effective management of their conditions. These shortages have compelled me to send prescriptions to four to five different pharmacies across multiple states in which I currently hold licenses. This process not only places an unnecessary burden on me as a provider, but also results in delays and potential disruptions in the continuity of care for my patients. A national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances would address several of these challenges by streamlining the prescription process and increasing access to essential medications for patients. By leveraging telehealth technology, healthcare providers could prescribe controlled substances electronically and securely, reducing the need to coordinate with multiple pharmacies across different states. Additionally, this program would facilitate better monitoring of prescription patterns, helping to minimize the risks of drug diversion and misuse. In light of the ongoing medication shortages and the increasing demand for remote healthcare services, the implementation of a national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances is not only necessary, but also timely. This program would enable healthcare providers like myself to more efficiently manage our patients' medications, ensuring that they receive the care they need without undue delays or complications. Thank you for your consideration of this critical issue. I hope that the DEA will take the necessary steps to develop and implement a national telehealth prescribing program for controlled substances, thereby enhancing the quality of care for patients across the United States.
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Daily shortages significantly affecting my patients functioning. I have numerous college students failing tests and classes because of insufficient supply. I have patients struggling to drive and posing safety issues to others on the road without consistent access to medications. My nurses are spending hours each week calling around to pharmacies checking on supplies which leaves them less time to address other acute psychiatric concerns.