Economy

Xanax, Adderall patients denied prescriptions due to opioid settlement: report

  • 03. Apr 2023. 20:37
  • By The EU Times
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Patients requiring Xanax and Adderall prescriptions to manage their mental health conditions have been denied access to the medications due to an opioid settlement, according to a new report.

The report, released Wednesday by the Associated Press, revealed that hundreds of patients in the United States are being denied prescriptions for the two medications, which are used to treat anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The issue stems from a settlement reached between the U.S. Department of Justice and Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, an opioid painkiller found to be responsible for the opioid epidemic. As part of the settlement, Purdue was required to stop distributing OxyContin to certain pharmacies, and those pharmacies were then barred from dispensing Xanax and Adderall.

The settlement has created a roadblock for patients who need the medications to manage their conditions. According to the report, some pharmacies have refused to fill the prescriptions, citing the settlement. The settlement also prohibits them from transferring the prescriptions to another pharmacy.

The report highlighted the struggles of one woman, who was denied a refill of her Xanax prescription. Without the medication, she said she experienced increased anxiety and depression. She was eventually able to get a refill after contacting a lawyer.

The report comes as opioid addiction continues to ravage the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017, with opioids responsible for around 68 percent of those deaths.

The opioid settlement was meant to hold Purdue accountable for its role in the opioid crisis, but it has inadvertently created a problem for those who need access to Xanax and Adderall. The Department of Justice has yet to comment on the issue.