Adhd & Focus
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is diagnosed only after a full clinical and psychosocial assessment, and medicine is one part of a wider plan agreed with a prescriber. Two wakefulness medicines for sleep disorders also appear in this group, since alertness and focus overlap as symptoms even though the underlying conditions are unrelated.
Key points
- NICE calls for a full clinical and psychosocial assessment before an ADHD diagnosis is made, not a rating scale alone.
- NICE includes atomoxetine among the non-stimulant medicines considered for ADHD in defined circumstances.
- NHS’s ADHD in adults page describes support that combines medicine with practical strategies and talking therapies.
Strattera and Axepta for ADHD
Strattera and Axepta both contain atomoxetine and are used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Atomoxetine is a non-stimulant option, one of the choices NICE lists when a stimulant medicine is unsuitable or not preferred.
Why Modalert and Artvigil sit on the wakefulness side
Modalert contains modafinil and Artvigil contains armodafinil. Both are prescribed for narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnoea and shift work sleep disorder, conditions that disrupt wakefulness rather than attention itself. A person taking either one is being treated for a sleep disorder, not for ADHD.