Methylphenidate: Supply issue

Global supply issue

Pharmac is working closely with suppliers and clinicians to manage an ongoing, global issue affecting methylphenidate. Methylphenidate is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Rising demand for methylphenidate coupled with overseas manufacturing issues have led to ongoing problems with supply of the medicine. Australia and the United Kingdom are also experiencing supply issues with methylphenidate.

Likely to continue all of 2025

These issues are likely to continue this year. There may be periods in 2025 where people will not be able to get the brand of methylphenidate they normally use. There may also be times where people have to wait for more stock to arrive at their local pharmacy.

Actions for clinicians to consider

Clinicians have told us that children and adolescents are most at need of methylphenidate, because they tolerate it better than some of the alternative medicines available for ADHD.

We ask that clinicians:

• prioritise methylphenidate for children and adolescents
• consider prescribing other brands of methylphenidate or other types of medicines for people with ADHD or narcolepsy
• review the Medsafe guidance on switching people between brands of long-acting methylphenidate(external link).

Pharmac is working with suppliers to source more methylphenidate for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Next shipments

Suppliers and wholesalers are limiting the amount of stock going to pharmacies. This means that although there might be stock in the country, your pharmacist may not have any stock. Please be patient.

We expect some people may not be able to access their usual brand or form of methylphenidate and alternative treatments will be needed. 

People who take methylphenidate

You may not be able to get the brand of methylphenidate you normally use. There may also be times when you have to wait for more stock to arrive at your local pharmacy.

Although some products may come back into stock, supply chains remain fragile. Products may only be available temporarily and may go out of stock at short notice.

There are differences between how each of the longer acting brands work in your body. These differences will affect everyone in a different way. If you experience any changes, please talk to the person who prescribed your medicine. 

Calling around pharmacies

If you cannot get your ADHD prescription from your usual pharmacy, try other pharmacies who may have it in stock.  Please remember that this shortage affects all of New Zealand so it still may not be possible to get a supply of your medicine.

If you are unable to fill your prescription after trying a few different pharmacies, contact the person who prescribed the medication for advice. This may be your GP or your nurse prescriber.

You can only do this with a new prescription and you cannot transfer repeats between pharmacies.

Please remember

Your pharmacist or doctor is not responsible for the lack of medicines. They will be trying to do what they can to help you.

It is hard when the medicine you are taking is not available – we want you to know that Pharmac is doing everything we can to improve the situation. 

Prescribing health care professionals

Pharmac expects that there will be more methylphenidate supply outages in 2025. The availability of brands, strengths, and presentations will be unpredictable.

Clinicians have told us that children and adolescents are most at need of methylphenidate, because they tolerate it better than some of the alternative medicines available for ADHD. So, we are asking you to prioritise them while we work with suppliers to find more methylphenidate to bring into New Zealand.

We’re also asking you to consider prescribing other brands of methylphenidate or other types of medicines for people with ADHD or narcolepsy. When switching between brands of modified release methylphenidate, Medsafe advises that people should be monitored because the brands have different release profiles and people will respond differently. 

Medsafe guidance on switching between long-acting methylphenidate products(external link)

 We have received clinical advice, which can be used at your discretion:

• There is information outlining dose equivalence and release profiles of methylphenidate presentations available. 
• For people new to ADHD treatments: please do not start any new patients on extended-release methylphenidate unless absolutely necessary. Instead consider alternative, shorter duration, methylphenidate formulations:
• Immediate release methylphenidate may also be used by some patients.

Detailed advice for prescribers (Updated March 2025) [PDF, 211 KB]

Special Authority applications

New patients

From Saturday 1 March 2025, people can start on any brand of methylphenidate. Previously people were only eligible for Concerta or Ritalin LA if they had tried other forms of methylphenidate first and had met other criteria.

Clinicians will still need to apply for both Special Authorities, if patients are to have funded access to all brands of methylphenidate.

Existing patients 

Anyone with an existing Special Authority for methylphenidate should now have approvals under both Special Authorities. 

Legal requirements for prescribing and Special Authority applications for GPs and nurse practitioners

The regulations outline that, legally, any registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner may prescribe methylphenidate products for ADHD, when acting on the written recommendation of a registered psychiatrist or paediatrician. 

Restriction on the Supply of Methylphenidate—Approval to Prescribe, Supply and Administer (Approval No.: 2015/AP001) - 2015-go760- New Zealand Gazette(external link)

Medsafe has confirmed that this approval notice, issued under regulation 22 (Misuse of Drugs Regulations), applies broadly to the chemical ‘methylphenidate’– not to a specific presentations or brands of methylphenidate.

This means

• the legal requirements to prescribe a methylphenidate presentation are satisfied regardless of whether the specialist recommendation was written for ‘methylphenidate’ or for a specific presentation of methylphenidate. 
• Specialist GPs, nurse practitioners, and GPs can legally apply for an alternative Special Authority for a methylphenidate presentation if needed, provided that all other relevant eligibility criteria are met.

This relates to the legal situation only. Clinically, specialist GPs, nurse practitioners, and GPs in primary care may still need specialist advice to change presentations of methylphenidate. 

If you are unsure if your patient has a special authority for the presentation/brand, you can contact Sector Operations at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

• use your Patient Management System Electronic Special Authority system or
• phone 0800 855 066 or
• email onlinehelpdesk@health.govt.nz

More information about online Special Authorities | Health NZ website(external link)

Thank you

We appreciate your support in helping manage this supply issue. We acknowledge the disruption changing medicines can cause and the additional workload this creates for you and your colleagues.

Advice for pharmacists

If you are unable to source stock of methylphenidate, you will need to advise affected people to talk to their prescriber about the best alternative for their situation. Please advise them that they may need to pay for an appointment.

People who need to change to an alternative presentation of methylphenidate will need:

• A new prescription
• The correct Special Authority.

Everyone with a Special Authority for methylphenidate should now have two special authority numbers. If they don't, their prescriber will need to make an application.  

The person’s usual GP or nurse prescriber can write this prescription and apply for a Special Authority. A specialist recommendation is only required for the chemical ‘methylphenidate’, rather than specific presentations.

Because this is a controlled drug with special authorities, when substituting between brands of methylphenidate ER (Concerta and Teva):

• A new prescription is required where a brand is given 
• A new prescription is not required where a prescription is written generically
• A new Special Authority should not be needed – people should now have both.

Removing renewal criteria and listing lisdexamfetamine

We removed the renewal criteria for all ADHD treatments and listed lisdexamfetamine.

Decision to fund lisdexamfetamine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)(external link)

Decision to remove the renewal criteria for stimulant treatments(external link)

Thank you

We appreciate your support in helping manage this supply issue. We acknowledge the disruption changing medicines can cause and the additional workload this creates for you and your colleagues.

About this supply issue

There is global shortage of ADHD medicines, including methylphenidate extended release. Demand has increased rapidly here and overseas.

Governments in Australia (TGA) and in the United Kingdom (NHS) have also reported outages:

• TGA: Shortage of methylphenidate hydrochloride modified-release tablets(external link)
• NHS: National supply shortage of ADHD medication(external link)

Demand has increased 140% in Aotearoa over the last two years.

Pharmac is expecting gaps in supply of methylphenidate throughout 2025. 

We’re anticipating that during these supply gaps, some people will not be able to access their brand of extended-release methylphenidate.  

Who to contact

If you take methylphenidate, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about this supply issue.

If you have questions about the funding of methylphenidate, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Please include as much information as you can about the product (presentation, brand, pharmacode) and who your wholesaler is.  

Sign up to our email list for regular emails about supply issues and more(external link)