20 percent more ADHD remedies prescribed

ADHD: 20 percent more drugs prescribed

06/10/2013

More and more young adults are getting more and more medicines to treat ADHD. This shows a current evaluation of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK).

The number of patients between the ages of 17 and 20 who have been prescribed a treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has risen by 12 percent between 2011 and 2012. Over the same period, the amount of prescribed medication packs for this age group has increased by around 20 percent - the specialist group of paediatricians has even prescribed twice as many packs.

One reason for the increase in prescriptions in young adults is very likely that since April 2011, a drug with the active ingredient methylphenidate is also approved for adults. This drug "Medikinet adult" can be prescribed for over 18-year-old patients, if the patient has been diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and other therapeutic measures are insufficient. (Pm)