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OmniRx › Tools › Drug shortage outlook › Methylphenidate

Shortage outlook · all drugs · read October 2026

How long has Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta generics) been on the FDA shortage list?

Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta generics) has been on the FDA shortage list for 3 years and 3 months. 102 of the 397 listings measured since 2014 lasted at least that long. Of the 102 past listings that reached the same age, 94% were still listed 6 months later (85 listings measured), 78% were still listed 12 months later (70 listings measured) and 62% were still listed 24 months later (51 listings measured). These are counts of listings, not a forecast.

Compiled by Vincent Wesley Couey (ORCID 0009-0005-6869-308X). FDA list read October 2026.

Not medical advice. A listing is what the FDA published, not a measure of what your pharmacy can supply. Do not use this page to decide whether to start, stop or change a medicine. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber, and see FDA drug shortage information for current notices.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta generics)on the FDA shortage list now
39months listed

Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta generics) has been on the FDA shortage list for 3 years and 3 months (August 2023 to October 2026).

  1. 102 of the 397 listings measured since 2014 lasted at least that long.
  2. Of the 102 past listings that reached the same age, 94% were still listed 6 months later (85 listings measured), 78% were still listed 12 months later (70 listings measured) and 62% were still listed 24 months later (51 listings measured).
  3. Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta generics) has been listed 7 times since 2014: earlier listings lasted 5 months, 2 months, 1 year and 5 months, 1 month and 2 years and 9 months.
  4. None of this predicts an end date. A listing ends when the FDA removes it, which reflects supply across the whole country, and says nothing about one pharmacy's shelf.

The listing history, to scale

  1. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (QUILLIVANT XR) for Extended-Release Oral SuspensionListed June 2014 to October 2014 · 5 months · already listed when the archive began
  2. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride ER Capsules/TabletsListed June 2014 to July 2014 · 2 months · already listed when the archive began
  3. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride ER Capsules/TabletsListed October 2014 to January 2016 · 1 year and 5 months
  4. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (QUILLIVANT XR) for Extended-Release Oral SuspensionListed December 2014 to December 2014 · 1 month
  5. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (QUILLIVANT XR) for Extended-Release Oral SuspensionListed February 2018 to October 2020 · 2 years and 9 months
  6. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (QUILLIVANT XR) for Extended-Release Oral SuspensionListed since August 2023 · 3 years and 3 months
  7. Methylphenidate Film, Extended ReleaseListed since September 2025 · 1 year and 2 months

What past listings of this age did

Of past listings that had already run 3 years and 3 months, how many were still listed later?

After 6 more months94%85 listings measured
After 12 more months78%70 listings measured
After 24 more months62%51 listings measured

What the FDA list says about it today

38presentations listed
7companies
26 July 2023first posted

Reasons companies gave: demand increase for the drug (7), discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug (7) and other (4); 20 of 38 gave none. FDA category: Psychiatry.

Company by company

Of 38 presentations, the companies reported 20 available, 12 with limited availability and 6 unavailable. This is each company's own report to the FDA, with the date of its last update.

What DEA sets for it each year

DEA aggregate production quota for methylphenidate (for sale)

Methylphenidate (for sale)

  • 202157,438 kg
  • 202241,800 kg
  • 202341,800 kg
  • 202453,283 kg
  • 202558,283 kg
  • 2026established58,283 kg
  • 2026adjusted 10 Nov69,503 kg

Kilograms of anhydrous acid or base, from the DEA table dated 13 March 2026 and, for the 2026 adjustment, Federal Register order 2026-22842 (signed 4 November, effective 10 November 2026). A quota is a yearly national ceiling on manufacturing; it is not a measure of stock.

FDA shortage list read October 2026 (monthly archived copies since 2014, rebuilt in the published dataset; current listing file read 11 November 2026); DEA quota table dated 13 March 2026 and the Federal Register order of 10 November 2026. Listing is the FDA's status, not a statement about any pharmacy.

Where can you go from this result?

This result is one of 61 drugs on the list now. Open it in the lookup to search another drug, or read how the listings were measured. The stimulants page sets the DEA quota beside this history.

To check what is available now, ask your pharmacist, and see FDA drug shortage information and the FDA drug shortages database.