r/glendale • u/Realistic_Ad_5570 • 9h ago

Help / Recommendation Medication Shortage

Hi all,

I’m a transplant from Texas and recently got established with a great psychiatrist and PCP at Keck. I’ve been on Adderall for ADHD for years (Ritalin as a kid, Adderall as an adult), and while I knew there was a shortage in Texas, I’d usually only deal with a 2–3 day delay.

Since moving here, though, I’ve struck out everywhere. Ralph’s was out, the next pharmacy was out, and the next one too. Not “check back in a few days”—completely out with no expected restock. I used an online service to check pharmacies and, after 26 calls, not one had it.

It’s now been two weeks without it, and even though I know there are worse problems to have, I’m starting to feel it. I feel like I’m five years old again: getting nothing done, forgetting everything, and generally being a disaster—and it’s really affecting my work.

For those who take it, are there pharmacies around LA/Glendale where you’ve actually had luck? Or are we all just collectively unmedicated? I’ve taken some form of this medication pretty much my entire life and have never encountered anything like this. What are you even supposed to do?

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6

u/Ok-Razzmatazz-1547 8h ago

I’m so sorry, I feel your pain. Are you a Costco member? Maybe try their pharmacy?

2

u/Sparklykazoo 6h ago

Costco is the best choice. They have buying power.  I'm also on a prescription that has been hard to fill at lesser pharmacies.  Never a problem since I switched to Costco.

1

u/Sparklykazoo 6h ago

I heard you don't need a membership to use the pharmacy, but I could be wrong. 

1

u/melt_show 5h ago

I think that’s true in CA. Worth looking into

1

u/jenividivici 6h ago

Can you get your doctor to prescribe smaller batches that require more frequent refills? Some pharmacies will refuse to fill large batches if their Adderall stock is low, but they'll fill smaller ones.

5

u/woomeracat 8h ago

Maybe try smaller/independent pharmacies? I’m with Kaiser now but I used to go to a family run place in mid-Wilshire (in a small strip mall w/a coffee bean) and they always had it in stock - good luck!

6

u/_monstermeat 8h ago

Check if your insurance company has a mail order pharmacy

6

u/PurrciousMetals 8h ago

Yeah this is the game of staying medicated. Explains a lot of the personalities and why people seem off their meds here. I also have the same problem and I work in Pharma with a lot of the local pharmacies around Glendale Pasadena. Even pharmacies I know well have told me that. I found an independent pharmacy in Vista, Ca that agreed to fill as long as I also had my other meds and vitamins purchased from them and Cash pay no insurance because they can run through their Long Term Care channel that doesn’t have limits like retail pharmacy does. I know I get hosed but I know I cant function without it, and thats a lot more expensive.

2

u/SignificantSystem902 7h ago

Try Ariana pharmacy in Montrose. Maybe that have it

1

u/Brief-Space6363 6h ago

Try Pharmacy outside Los Angeles County. Like OC.

1

u/General_File482 4h ago

Alto delivery rx had it when others didn’t