MORE than 3,000 Australians were poisoned by ADHD medications in 2023, with clonidine and methylphenidate the two most commonly implicated drugs.

Based on national data from the NSW Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC), researchers from the University of Sydney discovered a fourfold increase in cases from 2014 to 2023, outstripping the rate of increase in ADHD diagnoses over this period.

Using nationwide data from the NSW Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC), researchers found more than half of the 17,000 self-reported cases in the period surveyed resulted in hospital admission.

Over this time, the number of Australians diagnosed with ADHD more than doubled, and while the increase in poisonings can be partly attributed to the rise in diagnoses, the rate of poisonings from clonidine are disproportionately high compared to the overall number of scripts issued.

There are six medications used for the treatment of ADHD – clonidine, atomoxetine, dexamphetamine, guanfacine, lisdexamphetamine and methylphenidate – with clonidine and methylphenidate each accounting for 35% of all reports.

Lead author Amy Thomson from the School of Pharmacy said: “One problem can be that medicines are sometimes prescribed at quarter or half-doses of tablets, which can be tricky to administer accurately”.

“Another reason can be miscommunication within the family, typically where both parents give their child a dose of medication, not realising the other has already done it.

“Just one double dose of clonidine can put a child in hospital and with side-effects this serious it’s vital that both families and healthcare professionals are aware of the dangers and providing families with guidance,” Thomson explained.

While the research found that the majority of poisonings (60%) were accidental, more than a third (38.5%) of poisonings were the result of deliberate misuse.

The researchers noted that because the data from the NSWPIC is self-reported, the scale of the problem could be much bigger.

“People with ADHD and their families should be careful and stick to prescribed doses,” Thomson said.

“Doctors and pharmacists also play a vital role in keeping patients safe by explaining how to use medicines properly and the risks of getting it wrong,” she concluded.

Read the study HERE. KB

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