Medications For ADHD
The use of medication can assist people suffering from ADHD to focus, reduce impulsivity and learn new skills. They can also help improve social interactions and school performance.
Due to the shortages, millions of people are unable to obtain their medications. Many are storing or rationing their the supplies. A taskforce is working to help ease the situation.
Stimulants
The drugs used to treat ADHD are categorized as stimulants. This means they increase the levels certain chemicals in the mind. does adhd medication work helps your brain to focus and stop acting on impulses.
The stimulants are the most common type of ADHD medication that is prescribed in the UK. They are a class of drugs which include the methylphenidate family (such as Ritalin) and the amphetamine salts family (like Adderall). Both drugs function in a different way, but they both reduce the amount of dopamine released in the brain during an impulse.
The methylphenidate family of medicines is the most frequently used in Europe and the UK. It comprises methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, and Lisdexamfetamine. These medications are available in 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 up to twelve hours.
In the year 2000, the government issued a nationwide patient safety alert advising of the upcoming shortage of these ADHD medication. The shortages were caused by manufacturing issues as well as an increasing demand in the world. Some products were unavailable for a time but they are now available again.
As the supply of ADHD medications increased, more adults could take them. This means that for the first time ever, more adults than children are getting these drugs in England. There are also an increasing number of women who have been diagnosed with ADHD due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they are now being treated with these medications as well as their male counterparts.
More than 200,000 adults are now being treated with a stimulant ADHD medication in the UK. This is just a small portion of the 2 million people in the UK with the condition. For many, the choice of whether or not to take meds is a personal decision. Some people opt to take medication, while others prefer therapy.
There are also nonstimulant ADHD medicines available that have a different effect on the body. This kind of medication boosts noradrenaline in the brain which is a kind of messenger chemical that transfers information between nerve cells. This can aid in concentration and decrease of impulses, however it takes several weeks to be effective on the brain and this is why non-stimulant ADHD medication is often required to be monitored by a psychiatrist more closely. It is also more costly than stimulants. It is crucial that adults are aware of their options and talk about the options with their doctors or ADHD services. They can give further guidance on the options available for their families and for them. This is crucial due to the fact that the availability of these medications has been affected by the recent shortages in the UK.