A major scientific review has concluded that Ritalin and other drugs of the same class are the most effective and safest medications to prescribe children with ADHD.
The review which appeared in the Lancet Psychiatry Journal, shows that these drugs work and work well despite many people’s concerns that children in the UK are over medicated.
The study concluded that methylphenidate, of which Ritalin is the best known, is the most effective treatment for children whereas amphetamines work best for adults.
The number of children being prescribed medication has risen as ADHD has become better understood, but many still don’t receive the treatment they need to cope through school and that in the UK, it can take up to two years for them to get help. It is estimated that 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide.
The study compared the various drugs that are licenced for ADHD as well as some that are used to treat the condition even though they are not licenced for ADHD treatment. The results support the recent guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which included environmental modifications to further help children that can be introduced alongside medication.
Psychiatrists working on this report have suggested that although behavioural therapies are preferable, these do not impact on the actual symptoms of ADHD. Those symptoms include inattention, overactivity and impulsivity.
