Medications For ADHD
The use of medication can help those with ADHD focus, be less impulsive, and learn new skills. They can also improve the social interactions and school performance.
Due to the shortages many people are unable to obtain their medication. Many are stockpiling or rationing items. However, a taskforce is working to solve the issue.
Stimulants
Medications used to treat ADHD are typically classified as stimulants, meaning they increase the levels certain chemicals in the brain. This assists your brain to concentrate and stop you acting on impulses.
The stimulants are the most commonly used kind of ADHD medication used in the UK. They are a class of drugs which include the methylphenidate family (such as Ritalin) as well as amphetamine salts (like Adderall). Both work in a different way but they both reduce the amount of dopamine that is released in the brain when an impulse occurs.
In adhd medication and pregnancy and in the UK in the UK and Europe, the methylphenidate family is the most commonly used. It includes methylphenidate hydrochloride, dimesylate dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine. These medications are available in either short-acting or long-acting formulations or in a combination known as "immediate release" and "modified release". Short-acting tablets last between two and three hours. Modified release medicines can last for up to twelve hours.
Last year the government issued a national patient safety alert advising of the upcoming shortage of these ADHD medications. The shortages resulted from manufacturing issues as well as an increase in global demand. Certain products were out of stock for a time however, now they are back in stock.
As the supply of ADHD medications increased as more adults were able receive them. For the first time adults in England are receiving these drugs more than children. This means that an increasing number women are being diagnosed with ADHD. They are now receiving the same medications as their male counterparts.
inattentive adhd medication than 200,000 adults are being treated with stimulant ADHD medication in the UK. However, this is just a tiny portion of the estimated 2.6 million people in the UK who have the condition. For many, the decision of whether or not to use meds is a decision that is personal. Some people choose to take the meds route, while others choose to pursue therapy and never need or want to take meds.
There are also non-stimulant ADHD medications that are available, and they have a different effect on the body. This kind of medication boosts noradrenaline levels in the brain, which is a messenger chemical that passes information between nerve cells. This can help with concentration and lowering of impulses. However, it takes a few weeks to affect the brain and this is why non-stimulant ADHD medication often needs to be monitored by psychiatrists more closely. It is also more costly than stimulants. However, it is essential for adults to be aware of the options available for them and to discuss it with their GP or ADHD service. They can provide further information on what options are available for parents and children. This is particularly important because the recent shortages in the UK have impacted the availability of these medications.
