More adults are taking ADHD medications

Number of prescriptions of ADHD drugs increased significantly

04/05/2013

According to the Techniker Krankenkassen (TK), the number of young adults who are being treated for medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has risen significantly again last year. Over the years, there has been a marked increase in ADHD diagnoses among children and adolescents in the past, which has sometimes been rated as extremely critical. Rashly, children who do not meet the norm in everyday life, were sedated with medication, so the accusation often voiced. The other side always stressed how important the drug ADHD therapy was and was able to show some success.

Slowly, more and more former ADHD children are reaching adulthood, but their illness has not been overcome. Accordingly, the number of prescriptions of ADHD medication among young adults is increasing significantly. „The so-called childhood disease ADHD does not automatically end at the legal limit of majority. It is therefore important not to leave the patients alone in the transitional period from adolescence to adulthood, but to continue providing comprehensive medical care“, founded Dr. Edda Würdemann, pharmacist at the TK, the increase in prescriptions. What remains unanswered at this point is whether the high number of ADHD diagnoses has actually been justified in recent years. If so, the drastic increase in prescriptions of ADHD drugs would be a sequential error.

Drastic increase in prescriptions of ADHD drugs
According to the information of the Techniker Krankenkasse the number of young adults is, „who received a drug prescribed for the treatment of ADHD increased by 12% between 2011 and 2012.“ Relative to the prescribed medication packages, an increase of around 20 percent was even observed over the same period. The specialist group of pediatric and juvenile physicians prescribed twice as many packs as the general practitioners. The statements of the TK expert Dr. According to Würdemann, the transition between adolescent ADHD patients and adulthood requires close cooperation between specialists. However, the current evaluation has shown, „that this cooperation between the specialists is usually already implemented today.“ So be the „Prescription increases in ADHD drugs for patients between 17 and 20 years, in most cases with the appropriate specialists“ incurred, reports the technicians health insurance. As specialists will be in this context „for example, child and adolescent psychiatrists, neurologists and physicians working in psychiatric and psychotherapeutic outpatient clinics“, Roger that.

Good reasons for the increased prescription of ADHD drugs?
Among the possible causes for the significantly increased prescription of ADHD drugs to young adults It has been argued that one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of prescriptions is, in all likelihood, the approval of a medicinal product containing methylphenidate for adults, which has only been in force since April 2011. „Here comes a certain catch-up effect to bear“, emphasized the TC expert. Drug „Medikinet adult“ could be prescribed to patients over the age of 18 years, „if the diagnosis of ADHD has already been made in childhood and other therapeutic measures are insufficient“, so the message of TK. Although there seem to be good reasons for an increase in prescriptions of ADHD medication, however, doubts and concerns remain, especially with regard to the long-term effects of ADHD medication. (Fp)

Image: Sara Hegewald