Medications For ADHD
Medications can help people with ADHD to focus, feel less impulsive and learn new skills. They can also improve school performance and social interactions.
However, millions of people suffering from the disease are struggling to obtain their medication due to shortages. Many are rationing their medications or stockpiling. A taskforce is attempting to ease the situation.
Stimulants
The medications used to treat ADHD are typically classified as stimulants. This means they increase the levels certain chemicals in the brain. This helps you control your impulses and focus on the task at the moment.
The stimulants are the most common kind of ADHD medication prescribed in the UK. adhd sleep medication (such as Ritalin) and amphetamine-salts (such Adderall) families are included within this group. They function in different ways but both reduce the amount of dopamine which is released in the brain when you experience an impulse.
In Europe and the UK, the methylphenidate drug 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 versions or a combination of "immediate release" and "modified release". Short-acting tablets last between two and three hours. Modified release medicines can last up to twelve hours.
The government last year issued a nationwide patient safety alert about the possibility of shortages of these ADHD medications. The shortages were caused by manufacturing issues as well as an increasing demand in the world. Some products were completely unavailable for a time however, supplies have since returned.
As the supply of these ADHD medication increased as more adults were able to receive them. This meant that for the first time ever, more adults than children are receiving these medicines in England. There is also a growing number of women who have been diagnosed with ADHD due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are now receiving these medications as well as their male counterparts.
In the UK more than 200,000 adults receive stimulant ADHD medications. This is just a small portion of the 2,6 million people living in the UK suffering from the condition. The decision to either take or not take medication is often a personal choice. Some people decide to go down the route of taking meds, while others choose to pursue therapy and not ever need or want to take medication.
There are also non-stimulant ADHD medications that have a different impact on the body. This type of medication raises the levels of noradrenaline that are present in the brain. Noradrenaline acts as a messenger chemical that transmits information between nerve cells. This can help with concentration and decrease of impulses. However, it takes several weeks for it to be effective on the brain and this is the reason that non-stimulant ADHD medication is often required to be monitored by a psychiatrist more closely. It is also more expensive than stimulants. It is still important that adults are aware of their options and can discuss these with their GPs or ADHD services. They will be able to give further guidance on the available options for them and their families. This is crucial considering that the availability of these medications is being affected by recent shortages across the UK.