Leucovorin Prescriptions Surge After White House Autism Claim

Parents scramble to find the drug as demand outpaces supply

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Meagan Johnson, a mother of a child with autism, spent four days calling dozens of pharmacies across Austin, Texas, trying to fill a prescription for the drug leucovorin for her son Jack. This surge in demand for the drug came after the White House touted it as a potential treatment for autism, leading to a spike in prescriptions that has left many parents struggling to access the medication.

Why it matters

The White House's unsubstantiated claims about leucovorin's benefits for autism have created a rush on the drug, leaving families of autistic children unable to access a medication that may be crucial for their child's development and well-being. This highlights the need for responsible messaging from government officials on unproven treatments.

The details

Leucovorin is a drug typically used to counteract the side effects of the chemotherapy drug methotrexate. However, some parents of autistic children have reported anecdotal improvements in their child's symptoms after taking leucovorin, leading to increased demand. This surge in prescriptions has strained the drug's supply, making it difficult for families like the Johnsons to obtain.

  • Meagan Johnson spent four days in March 2026 calling pharmacies to fill a leucovorin prescription for her son Jack.

The players

Meagan Johnson

A mother of a child with autism who is struggling to find the drug leucovorin for her son Jack.

Jack

Meagan Johnson's 3-year-old son with autism, who has a limited vocabulary of about 20 words.

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What they’re saying

“At age 3, most kids have a vocabulary of 500 to 1,000 words. Jack can say about 20, and most of those 20, only I can understand.”

— Meagan Johnson (ground.news)

The takeaway

This situation highlights the need for caution and evidence-based messaging from government officials when discussing potential treatments for complex conditions like autism. The surge in leucovorin prescriptions has left many families struggling to access a medication that may be crucial for their child's development, underscoring the importance of responsible communication and careful consideration of the impacts of such claims.