In an attempt to address the chronic shortage of ADHD drugs in US, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has finally given approval to Japan's Takeda Pharmaceuticalsto increase production of its ADHD drug Vyvanse and its generic versions by 24 percent.

DEA announced its decision through a notice posted last week, Reuters reported. Being classified as a schedule II-controlled substance, Vyvanseor lisdexamfetamine is a drug considered to be at a higher chance of being abused or misused.

"The Drug Enforcement Administration is adjusting the 2024 aggregate production quota for the schedule II-controlled substances lisdexamfetamine and d-amphetamine (for conversion),"DEA said in the notice.

Through itslatest approval, DEA increased production limit for Vyvanseby 6,236 kilograms, of which, 1,558 kgwill be used to meet an increased domestic demand and 4,678 kg to address a foreign demand for finished dosage medications.

"These adjustments are necessary to ensure that the United States has an adequate and uninterrupted supply of lisdexamfetamine to meet legitimate patient needs both domestically and globally," DEA said in the statement.

A shortage of ADHD drugs has been prevalent in US since October 2022 whenAdderall, an ADHD drug manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, became unavailable in the market. This led to an increase in demand for Vyvanse, thus leading to its shortage.

The agency's current decision to increase production comes in response to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) request to increase production of ADHD drugs in July this year.

Apart from US,Vyvanse has been approved in 29 countries for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a common mental disorder found in children that leads to poor concentration, hyper activity and behavioral problems. According to the health experts, ADHD can have a negative impact on learning and academic development of a child.

Around 7 million kids, between the ages of three and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD till 2022, according toCDC.

FDA has approved two types of medicationscalled stimulants and non-stimulantsfor treating ADHD.

Strattera (atomoxetine), Intuniv (guanfacine), Kapvay (clonidine) and Qelbree (viloxazine) are the four non-stimulants approved by FDA to treat the symptoms of ADHD in US.