Prescriptions of ADHD medication for over-16s up by more than 200% in a decade

The prescription rate of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication to over-16s in the Republic has increased by 211 per cent over the past 10 years, according to a new report from the Irish Medical Journal. The study looked at patterns of stimulant ADHD medications issued to adults in Ireland between 2015 and 2024 under community drug schemes.ADHD is a common condition that affects brain development and makes it hard to focus, control impulses, and manage excess energy.[ What do Irish experts think about controversial ADHD claims?Opens in new window ]It is a disability in the Republic under equality and discrimination laws when the symptoms have a substantial, negative impact on a person’s daily life.READ MOREDispensing data were obtained from the Irish Primary Care Reimbursement Service, namely prescriptions reimbursed through the General Medical Services scheme and the Drug Payment scheme.Dispensing volumes and patient numbers for recommended first-line agents, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine, were analysed using a “retrospective repeated cross-sectional design”.The number of recorded dosage units of both medications increased by 211 per cent (700,574 to 2.2 million) between 2015 and 2024. Units of lisdexamfetamine rose by 504 per cent (59,088 to 356,641) between 2020 and 2023. The number of patients also increased during this time (3,377 to 13,966). Those aged 16-34 years, described by the study as adults, experienced the largest growth. Adults aged up to 34 years were the most prevalent patient population and experienced the largest absolute growth (2,708 to 7,930), followed by those aged 35-54 years (332 to 2,232). Individuals aged 55 years and older represented the least prevalent patient population throughout the study period, although dispensings increased steadily in this group as well (216 to 403).By 2024, dispensings among women had increased to levels approaching those observed in men. Regional patient variation was “evident”, with the largest increases observed in North Cork, Waterford, and Cork-South Lee.“Regional variation could suggest differing levels of access to diagnostic services, specialist pathways, and trained clinicians,” the report’s authors noted. [ Medication has changed my lifeOpens in new window ]They also said private prescriptions were not involved in the study, which may have led to “underestimation”, particularly for individuals outside public reimbursement schemes.The authors acknowledged that the medications can also be used for other conditions, such as narcolepsy, although they are primarily prescribed for ADHD. They concluded that the increase in prescriptions “could underscore the need for expanded assessment pathways, multidisciplinary follow-up, and structured medicines management”.The authors recommended continued monitoring of prescription patterns to help with national treatment planning.