What the New Nonstimulant ADHD Medication Could Mean For Many Adults

Photo by Christine Sandu on Unsplash

Just today, Supernus Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has expanded approval on their drug, Qelbree (Viloxazine XR), for adult usage. This is the first novel nonstimulant ADHD drug approved in 20 friggin years.

This is big news, and there are quite a few reasons why, but let’s go for the biggest reasons, shall we? We shall:

Some who couldn’t medicate may finally be able to.

At the moment, non-stimulant options are very slim. The most popular was Strattera (Atomoxetine), so if that didn’t work, you’d either have to pay for more obscure options, or get creative.

There’s also the option to use Bupropion (otherwise known as Wellbutrin), but Buproprion is an antidepressant; its usage for ADHD treatment is off-label, which means that relief doesn’t always come. There’s also the fact that antidepressants are hard to quit, with things like fatigue, nausea, and suicidal ideation walking hand-in-hand with attempts to taper off.

This may open the door for more non-stimulants in the future

Twenty years is a LONG time for the doors to open, but as we know, a door only has to open once. Maybe, just maybe, this is the swing wide open that…