Medications For ADHD
The use of medication can help those with ADHD concentrate, feel less impulsive, and learn new skills. They can also enhance the quality of their interactions with others and improve school performance.
But millions of people with the condition are struggling to get their medicine due to shortages. Many are storing up or rationing the supplies. A taskforce is attempting to solve the issue.
Stimulants
The medications used to treat ADHD are classified as stimulants. This means they boost the levels of certain chemicals within the mind. This allows you to manage your impulses and focus on the task at hand.
The stimulants are the most popular kind of ADHD medication that is prescribed in the UK. They are a category of drugs which include the methylphenidate family (such as Ritalin), and the amphetamine salts family (like Adderall). They function in different ways, but both of them work by reducing the amount of dopamine that is released in the brain when you have an impulse.
The methylphenidate medication family is the most frequently used in Europe and the UK. It comprises methylphenidate hydrochloride dimesylate of dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine. They are available as short or long acting medications or as two medications called 'immediate release' and'modified release'. Short-acting tablets last between two and three hours. Modified release medicines can last for up to twelve hours.
In the last year, the government issued a warning to patients about the possibility of shortages in these ADHD medications. This was due to both manufacturing issues as well as the increase in global demand. Certain products were unavailable for a short period however, supplies have since resumed.
As the supply of ADHD medication increased, more adults were able to take these medications. For the first time, adults in England are now receiving these medications more frequently than children. In the process, an increasing number of women are being diagnosed with ADHD. They are receiving the same medications as their male counterparts.
In the UK there are more than 200,000 adults receive stimulant ADHD medications. However, this is still only a small percentage of the estimated 2.6 million people in the UK who have the condition. The decision to either take or not take medication is usually a personal choice. Some people choose to take the route of taking meds, while others choose therapy and may never require or desire to take medication.
There are also types of adhd medication -stimulant ADHD medications available, which have a different effect on the body. This kind of medication boosts noradrenaline in the brain, which is a messenger chemical that transfers information between nerve cells. This can help with concentration and reduce the frequency of impulses, however it takes a few weeks to affect the brain and this is the reason that non-stimulant ADHD medications are often required to be monitored by psychiatrists more closely. It is also more expensive than stimulants. It is nevertheless important for adults to be aware of the options available for them and to talk about this with their GP or ADHD service. They can give more details on the options available to them and their family. types of adhd medication is especially important, given that the recent shortages in the UK have impacted the availability of these medicines.