Generally known as the “good capsule,” or “examine capsule” in South Korea, the variety of sufferers prescribed methylphenidate, an consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction therapy, has seen a dramatic enhance within the first half of this 12 months, a brand new report discovered.
In accordance with the Ministry of Meals and Drug Security, the variety of folks prescribed this ADHD therapy in the course of the first half of this 12 months — some 257,000 — reaches practically the identical variety of prescriptions for the drug made all of final 12 months.
The determine is about 90 p.c of the over 286,000 sufferers who have been prescribed methylphenidate final 12 months.
Methylphenidate is a medical narcotic that stimulates the central nervous system and will increase alertness.
It’s used to deal with ADHD, a psychiatric dysfunction characterised by signs comparable to consideration deficit and hyperactivity in kids and adolescents over the age of six. However consultants have warned of extreme use, as it will possibly trigger unwanted side effects comparable to complications and insomnia, and in extreme instances, hallucinations, delusions and suicide makes an attempt.
The variety of prescriptions for teenagers and youthful can be rising dramatically. Within the first half of this 12 months, 85,106 males aged 19 and below have been prescribed methylphenidate, the very best variety of sufferers by gender and age. Some 90,851 males aged 19 and below have been prescribed the drug throughout all of final 12 months.
There have been a complete of 32,780 prescriptions for feminine teenagers and youthful within the first half of this 12 months, adopted by girls of their 20s at 35,773. This determine can be near the 34,888 and 39,201 prescriptions recorded final 12 months by women and girls in the identical teams, respectively.
As well as, within the first half of this 12 months, 28,508 males of their 20s and 26,300 males of their 30s have been prescribed methylphenidate, whereas 23,816 girls of their 30s have been prescribed methylphenidate.
The ministry mentioned the sharp enhance in methylphenidate prescriptions is “believed to be because of elevated affected person entry to psychological well being clinics,” however added, “the precise trigger is being analyzed.”