Prescriptions For Stimulants Increased By 37.5% From 2019 To 2022, Telehealth Accounts for More Than One-Third

Prescriptions for stimulants used as treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder increased by 37.5% from 2019 through 2022, according to pharmacy claims submitted to an all-payer database. The proportion of stimulants prescribed following a telehealth visit increased from 1.4% of all stimulants prescribed in 2019 to 38.1% in 2022. During this period, telehealth prescribing also increased for antidepressants and opioids used for acute and chronic pain.

For stimulants, during the second quarter of 2020 while COVID-lockdowns were still in effect, telehealth prescriptions accounted for more than half (51.8%) of all stimulant prescriptions, and 48 . . .