Pharmacists: Managing methylphenidate supply issues
We expect methylphenidate supply outages to continue into 2026.
Supply status and next shipments
The availability of brands, strengths, and presentations will be unpredictable. You can find the latest information we have on supply availability on the methylphenidate medicine supply notice.
Note, this is only the stock the supplier holds. The supplier and wholesalers may be restricting supply which may limit your access to products.
Methylphenidate supply issue notice
Supporting people affected by an out of stock
If someone's usual ADHD stimulant medicine is out of stock, you can support them to navigate the challenge.
Regulatory considerations for switching between methylphenidate formulations
Where a prescribed methylphenidate formulation is unavailable, Medsafe has provided advice on permitted changes to a prescription, that do not require the prescriber to issue a new prescription or to countersign an amendment to a prescription.
- If the same formulation is available in a different strength, pharmacists may dispense the prescription with a different strength as long as the total daily dose remains unchanged e.g. substituting prescribed 1x Ritalin LA 40mg capsules for 2x Ritalin LA 20mg capsules
Immediate release products
Generic prescribing for immediate-release methylphenidate is now supported in software, enabled by the NZULM. This allows pharmacists to dispense any funded immediate-release brand without a new prescription if the brands are approved and clinically appropriate.
Modified release products
Modified-release (MR) methylphenidate (such as, Ritalin LA, Concerta, Rubifen SR, Methylphenidate Teva, Methylphenidate Sandoz XR) cannot be substituted at pharmacy level.
You will need to discuss options with the prescriber or refer the affected person back to their prescriber. In either case, a new prescription is needed for a pharmacist to switch modified-release products.
Where pharmacists make permitted changes to a prescription, pharmacists are required to annotate the change on the prescription (such as, brand/strength supplied, date of change, signature of pharmacist authorising the change) and let the person affected know.
More information
Refer to the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) or the Pharmacy Guild for support navigating this.
Contact Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand(external link)
Contact the Pharmacy Guild(external link)
Guidance and advice
Medsafe advice on switching between long-acting methylphenidate products(external link)
Medsafe advice about the safety of medicines used to treat ADHD in adults(external link)