U.K. National Institute for Health authority advises conservative treatment of ADHD

LONDON The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issued guidelines Wednesday recommending that doctors prescribe drugs such as Ritalin sparingly for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

NICE said the drugs should only go to kids with severe ADHD, while kids with moderate cases should receive special help from parents and teachers. More than 2.5 million young people in the United States use drugs to treat ADHD.

Ritalin (methylphenidate) had sales of $375 million in 2007, according to financial data from maker Novartis.