01/12/2023
Update and Information Regarding the Adderall Shortage
Hello Clarity Integrative Psychiatry Family,
Happy New Year! All of us at Clarity Integrative Psychiatry (Clarity) are wishing you all a joyous and prosperous 2023. We are so thankful that you have trusted us with your care.
As many of you may already know, the FDA has recently announced a nationwide Adderall shortage (also affecting the generic drug “Mixed Amphetamine Salts”). We are acutely aware of the ongoing shortage and challenging consequences that are affecting you, our patients, as well as Clarity Office Staff, Dr. Thomas, and Pharmacy Staff. We know many patients rely on their stimulant regimen to live optimally and we at Clarity would like to be proactive about this.
We understand how difficult and potentially frustrating it can be when a prescription cannot be filled like usual at a preferred local pharmacy. Please understand that we and the pharmacy staff all share this frustration.
*If you are not currently on a stimulant medication, you may choose to disregard this email.
If you are on a stimulant medication, Dr. Thomas will make the effort to review your plan at your next appointment and potentially offer alternative treatment options to help increase the chance that you get the treatment you need. Please read more to learn about the steps to take if your prescription is out of stock at your pharmacy.
This shortage is projected by the FDA to last through approximately May 2023 and while we at Clarity will continue to do everything reasonably possible to help you fill your prescriptions, we would like to remind everyone of the $35 change fee and steps to take for medication refills and medication transfers requested OUTSIDE of scheduled and completed appointments.
At this time, we will provide one free transfer for each stimulant in the appointment “batch”, meaning the set of stimulant prescriptions that were sent in at your appointment (for example, if you received 3 IR and 3 XR prescriptions during your appointment, you would receive a free transfer for each).
These policies apply unless a future prescription change or transfer was clearly discussed and agreed upon in the most recently completed appointment.
Here are the steps for you to take if you are experiencing an issue refilling your medication.
1. Speak with your pharmacist and ask if they have any alternative doses of your medication in stock.
2. Reach out to Clarity Office by email, phone call or text message to request a medication change or transfer.
3. When you make the request, please be very specific about which medication and dose you would like to be amended or transferred, as well as which pharmacy you would like the new medication to be sent to.
4. If this is the first transfer/change request for this batch of medications, the transfer will be free. If the free transfer for this batch has already been used, a $35 fee will apply.
5. Per office policy, Dr. Thomas will address this request within 24 hours. If a transfer fee applies, the fee will need to be paid before the request can be completed.
6. Clarity Office staff will do their best to update you when your medication has been transferred. If you do not hear from the office within 24 hours, please contact us again.
7. If the request was for the medication to be transferred to a new pharmacy and the pharmacy does not have it in stock, we begin the steps again.
***Please note that due to the multitude of requests, the 24 hour policy will apply and we cannot promise a same day transfer.
For further information on why this process and these fees apply, we would like to make you aware of some very important principles of medical prescribing and filling of prescriptions at pharmacies. These are summarized and listed below:
1. NO STIMULANT MEDICATION PRESCRIPTION CAN BE DIRECTLY TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PHARMACY BY A PHARMACIST OR PROVIDER.
2. IN ORDER TO BE TRANSFERRED, ANY STIMULANT MEDICATION PRESCRIPTION MUST BE CANCELED AND A NEW AND INDEPENDENT PRESCRIPTION MUST BE SENT TO A NEW PHARMACY.
3. PHARMACISTS ARE OFTEN NOT AUTHORIZED TO DISCLOSE THE STOCK OF A STIMULANT MEDICATION TO EITHER PATIENTS OR OFFICE STAFF UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE PRESCRIPTION ON FILE FOR THE REQUESTING PATIENT.
As noted previously, we also offer the option to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas to discuss medication alternatives, which may include alternative or generic prescriptions and/or natural supplements and holistic options.
We acknowledge that many of you have received these services as a gift in the past, however we will now be strictly enforcing this policy for medication transfers, changes, and early refills. We understand that the shortage is out of your control and we apologize for the inconvenience but do sincerely hope you understand the scope of effort that changing and transferring controlled substance medications, including Adderall, poses to both our office and your pharmacy.
If you have any questions regarding our policies, or if you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss medication alternatives, please reach out to the office by responding to this email or by calling or texting 678-459-5493.
Warmly,
Dr. Naveen Thomas & Clarity Staff
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