Trends in the Dispensing of Adult ADHD Medications.

Q3 Medicine

Irish medical journal Pub Date : 2026-09-28

A Maher, M Cahill, A W Murphy, G Molloy

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aims: To examine patterns of stimulant ADHD medications to adults in Ireland between 2015 and 2024, under community drug schemes. We aimed to describe changes over time across age groups, demographic characteristics, and geographic areas.

Methods: Dispensing data were obtained from the Irish Primary Care Reimbursement Service, namely prescriptions reimbursed through General Medical Services scheme and Drug Payment scheme. Dispensing volumes and patient numbers for NICE-recommended first-line agents, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine, were analysed using a retrospective repeated cross-sectional design.

Results: The number of recorded dosage units of both medications increased by ~211% (700,574 to 2,217,634) between 2015 and 2024. Units of lisdexamfetamine rose by ~504% (59,088 to 356,641) between 2020 and 2023. The number of patients also increased during this time (3,377 to 13,966). Adults aged 16-34 years experienced the largest growth. By 2024, dispensings among females had increased to levels approaching those observed in males. Regional patient variation was evident, with largest increases observed in North Cork, Waterford, and Cork-South Lee.

Discussion: Adult ADHD pharmacotherapy in Ireland appears to have increased over the past decade, which could reflect evolving service provision. Demographic and regional variation could underscore the need for equitable expansion of adult ADHD assessment and treatment services.

本刊更多论文

成人ADHD药物分配的趋势。

目的：在社区药物计划下，研究2015年至2024年间爱尔兰成年人兴奋剂ADHD药物的模式。我们的目的是描述年龄组、人口特征和地理区域随时间的变化。方法：调剂数据来自爱尔兰初级保健报销服务，即通过一般医疗服务计划和药品支付计划报销的处方。使用回顾性重复横断面设计分析nice推荐的一线药物哌醋甲酯和利地氨苯他明的配药量和患者数量。结果：2015年至2024年，两种药物的记录剂量单位数增加了~211%，从700,574个增加到2,217,634个。从2020年到2023年，利地安非他明的用量增加了约504%（59,088至356,641）。在此期间，患者人数也从3377人增加到13966人。16-34岁的成年人增幅最大。到2024年，女性的配药水平已经上升到接近男性的水平。区域患者差异明显，在北科克，沃特福德和科克-南李观察到最大的增长。讨论：在过去的十年中，爱尔兰的成人ADHD药物治疗似乎有所增加，这可能反映了不断发展的服务提供。人口统计和地区差异可能强调公平扩大成人ADHD评估和治疗服务的必要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Irish medical journal Medicine-Medicine (all)

CiteScore

1.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

139

期刊介绍： Since its inception in 1867, the Journal of the Medical Association of Ireland and now in its present format, the Irish Medical Journal, has provided the medical community in Ireland with an invaluable service. As one of the leading biomedical publications in Ireland, it has sought to continue the education of medical students and postgraduates through scientific research, review articles and updates on contemporary clinical practices while providing an ongoing forum for medical debate. A measure of our stature is that we are listed in the Index Medicus and issued annually with a citation factor from the Institute for Scientific Information.