The exponential increase in the number of prescriptions for ADHD medication between 2012 and 2022 in Poland in patients aged 5-59 years: a pharmacoepidemiological study.

Authors

Marcin Rzeszutek, Łukasz Konowałek, Joanna Martin, Agnieszka Butwicka, Tomasz Wolańczyk

Published in

European child & adolescent psychiatry. Jun 19, 2026. Epub Jun 19, 2026.

Abstract

There are currently no pharmacoepidemiological data on the use of ADHD medications in Poland. Moreover, evidence from Central and Eastern Europe remains limited, despite a global increase in ADHD diagnosis and pharmacological treatment. This lack of evidence highlights the need for population-based analyses of prescribing trends in this setting. This study aims to analyze data from the Polish prescription register to estimate the increase in the total number of prescriptions for methylphenidate and atomoxetine from 2012 to 2022, as well as identify any factors that may have influenced this trend. A retrospective population-based study utilizing a large electronic database containing all (n = 925 536) prescriptions for ADHD medication in Poland for the period between 2012 and 2022 for patients aged 5-59 years was conducted. We performed regression-based temporal trend analyses, including age- and sex-stratified interaction models. The prevalence of ADHD medications rose from 170.33 prescriptions per 100 000 in 2012 (n = 48,429) to 591.50 per 100 000 in 2022 (n = 155,068), marking a 247% increase. Methylphenidate remained the most prescribed medication, with its prevalence increasing from 168.28 prescriptions per 100,000 in 2012 to 481.45 prescriptions per 100,000 in 2022 (186% increase), while atomoxetine experienced an increase from 2.02 prescriptions per 100,000 in 2012 to 110.05 prescriptions per 100,000 in 2022 (5242% increase). ADHD medication usage increased across all age groups, with the highest prescription rates observed among children aged 7-12 and significant growth seen in adolescents aged 13-17. The use of ADHD medications has increased among all age groups and in males as well as females. The rate of increase was highest among females, particularly in the group of young adults (18-24 year olds). Our study provides data on prescription trends in Poland, contributing to the limited evidence from Central and Eastern Europe.

PMID:
42319435
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 19 Jun 2026.

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