Medications For ADHD
Medication can help people with ADHD concentrate, feel less impulsive, and develop new skills. They can also help improve social interactions and school performance.
But millions of people with the condition are struggling to get their medications because of shortages. Many are rationing their supplies or stockpiling. A taskforce is attempting to ease the situation.
Stimulants
The drugs used to treat ADHD are categorized as stimulants. This means that they increase the levels certain chemicals within the mind. This assists your brain focus and stop responding to impulses.
The stimulants are the most common kind of ADHD medication prescribed in the UK. They are a group of drugs which include the methylphenidate family (such as Ritalin) and the amphetamine salts family (like Adderall). Both drugs work in a different way, however, they both decrease the amount of dopamine released by the brain when an impulse occurs.
The methylphenidate family of medicines is the most commonly used in Europe and the UK. It includes methylphenidate, dexamfetamine and the lisdexamfetamine. They are available as short-acting or long-acting medications, or as a combination of the two called 'immediate release and modified release. Short-acting tablets usually last between two to three hours, while modified release medicines can be taken for up to 12 hours.
Last year the government issued a nationwide patient safety alert advising of the upcoming shortage of these ADHD drugs. The shortages were caused by manufacturing issues and increase in global demand. see it here were out of stock for a while however, now they are again available.
As the number of ADHD medication increased, more adults were able to get them. For the first time, adults in England are receiving these drugs more than children. There are also an increasing number of women diagnosed with ADHD due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they are now receiving these drugs as well as their male counterparts.
In the UK, more than 200,000 adults are on stimulant ADHD medications. However, this is only a small percentage of the estimated 2.6 million people in the UK who suffer from the condition. For many, the decision of whether or not to take medication is a personal one. Some people prefer to take medications, whereas others opt for therapy.
There are also nonstimulant ADHD medicines available that have a different impact on the body. This type of medication increases noradrenaline levels in the brain, which is a messenger chemical that transfers information between nerve cells. This can aid in concentration and reduce the frequency of impulses. However, it takes a few weeks to have an effect on the brain. This is the reason that non-stimulant ADHD medication is often required to be monitored by a psychiatrist more closely. It's also more expensive than stimulants. It is nevertheless vital that adults are aware of their options and talk about these with their GPs or ADHD services. They can give more details on the options available for them and their families. This is particularly important, due to the recent shortages in the UK have impacted the availability of these medications.