American adults surpass children in taking drugs to stay focused

Adults in the U.S. have overtaken children in taking attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medication. The adult segment accounts for 53 percent of 63 million ADHD prescriptions prescribed in 2014, according to Irish drugmaker Shire Plc.

The company, which makes a top-selling treatment called Vynase, said the number is a 14 percent increase from 2007, when adults took up 39 percent of 37 million ADHD medication prescriptions.

Sales of Vynase rose 18 percent to $1.4 billion last year, far exceeding incomes generated by competitor Johnson & Johnson’s Concerta brand, which generated $599 million.

Studies attribute the shift partly to an increase in the number of diagnoses and the longevity of the disorder, which is known to persist into adulthood.

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