Medications For ADHD
Medication can help people with ADHD focus, be less impulsive, and develop new skills. They can also improve the quality of their interactions with others and improve school performance.
Due to shortages of medication, millions of people aren't able to access their medication. Many are rationing their medications or stockpiling. A taskforce is working to ease the situation.
Stimulants
The medications used to treat ADHD are generally classified as stimulants, meaning they boost the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. This allows your brain focus and stop you acting on impulses.
The stimulants are the most commonly used kind of ADHD medication that is prescribed in the UK. They are a category of medications that comprise the methylphenidate family (such as Ritalin), and the amphetamine salts family (like Adderall). They function in various ways, but they both work by reducing the amount of dopamine which is released in the brain when you have an impulse.
The methylphenidate family of medicines is the most widely used in Europe and the UK. It includes methylphenidate as well as dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine. They are available as short acting or long-acting medicines, or as a combination of the two called 'immediate release or modified release'. Short-acting tablets last between two and three hours. Modified release medicines can last up to twelve hours.
Last year the government issued a warning to patients warning of shortages in these ADHD medications. This was due to both manufacturing issues as well as the increase in global demand. Some products were completely unavailable for a period of time however, supplies have since been restored.
As adult adhd medication uk of ADHD medications increased, more adults could receive these medications. This meant that for the first time more adults than children are getting these drugs in England. This means that an increasing number women are being diagnosed with ADHD. They are receiving the same medications as their male counterparts.
More than 200,000 people are receiving a stimulant ADHD medication in the UK. This is a tiny part of the estimated 2,6 million people living in the UK suffering from the condition. adhd medication adults uk to take or not take medication is often an individual choice. Some people choose to go down the meds route, while others opt for therapy and may not ever need or want to take meds.
There are also non-stimulant ADHD medications available, which 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 lowering of impulses, but it takes several weeks to have an effect on the brain and this is the reason that non-stimulant ADHD medication often needs to be monitored by a psychiatrist more closely. It's 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 provide additional guidance on the options available for their families and for them. This is particularly important due to the fact that the availability of these medications has been impacted by the recent shortages across the UK.