Surviving and Thriving with ADHD: Part 1. Stimulant and Nonstimulant Treatment

There has been an increase in prescription medications, mainly stimulants, for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) along with an explosion of new formulations. A 2016 CDC report estimates that about 9% of children 2 to 17 years of age (6.1 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD. Among the children with ADHD, 6 out of 10 were taking ADHD medication. The lifetime prevalence of ADHD has been estimated to be as high as 8.1%. In 2015, 4% of privately insured women ages 15 to 44 filled an ADHD prescription, most often for a stimulant such as mixed amphetamine salts or methylphenidate – a 344% increase compared to 2003.3 In 2016, the CDC reported that 3 out of 4 preschoolers diagnosed with ADHD were prescribed stimulants, despite a recommendation for behavior therapy alone for that age group.

This issue is the first of a 2-part review of ADHD. Part 1 focuses on stimulant and nonstimulant treatments for ADHD, including the advantages of certain formulations and delivery methods, common and serious adverse effects, and possible longterm effects. Part 2 is available online at rxconsultant.com and summarizes diagnosis and clinical presentation in all age groups (including adults), non-drug and behavioral interventions, clinically significant drug interactions with stimulants and nonstimulants, and the comorbid conditions that often accompany ADHD.