Medications For ADHD
Medication can help people with ADHD focus, be less impulsive and also learn new skills. content can also help improve the performance of students and social interactions.
However, millions of people suffering from the condition are struggling to get their medications due to shortages. Many are rationing their medication or stockpiling. But a taskforce is trying to ease the problem.
Stimulants
The medications used to treat ADHD are generally classified as stimulants. This means they increase the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. This assists your brain to focus and stop your brain from acting on impulses.
The stimulants are the most common kind of ADHD medication used in the UK. The methylphenidate (such as Ritalin) and amphetamine-salts (such Adderall) families are included within this group. Both drugs function in a different way however, they both decrease the amount of dopamine that is released in the brain when an impulse occurs.
In Europe and the UK The methylphenidate drug family is the most frequently used. It includes methylphenidate as well as dexamfetamine, and lisdexamfetamine. They are available as short 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 medications can last for up to twelve hours.
The government last year issued a national safety alert warning of shortages of these ADHD drugs. The shortages were due to manufacturing issues as well as an increasing demand in the world. Certain products were out of stock for a while but they are now again available.
As the supply of ADHD medication increased, more adults could receive them. This meant that for the first time ever, more adults than children are getting these medicines 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 adults are now receiving a stimulant ADHD medication in the UK. However, this is just a tiny fraction of the estimated 2.6 million people in the UK who have the condition. The choice to take or not take medication is often an individual decision. Some people opt to take medication, whereas others choose to seek therapy.
There are also non-stimulant ADHD medications that are available, and they have a different effect on the body. This type of medication increases the levels of noradrenaline that are present in the brain. Noradrenaline is a chemical that transmits information between nerve cells. This medication can help with concentration, and lower impulses. However it takes a few weeks for the effects to take place in the brain. It's also more expensive than stimulants. It is important that adults are aware of their options and talk about the options with their doctors or ADHD services. They can also provide more information about the options available to them and their family. This is especially important in light of the fact that the availability of these drugs has been affected by the recent UK-wide shortages.