There has been a 50% rise in the use of drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in six years.
Prescriptions for methylphenidate drugs, including Ritalin, rose from 420,000 in 2007 to 657,000 last year, the Care Quality Commission said.
The watchdog warned health workers to "carefully monitor" their use as they have the potential to be "abused".
The drugs are one of a number linked to the "smart-drug" craze, where students take medication to help them focus.
Methylphenidate is known as a psychostimulant.
End Quote Professor Tim Kendall Consultant psychiatristI think it's a real trend. I think it's too big to be ignored"
While it is not completely clear how it works, it is thought to stimulate a part of the brain that changes mental and behavioural reactions.
The CQC report - its annual review of controlled drugs - said the number of prescriptions for such medications rose by 11% between 2011 and 2012.
'Worrying' trendThe commission said: "As in previous years, we believe that this reflects increased diagnosis of, and prescribing for, the treatment of ADHD.
"We are also aware of the possibility that methylphenidate could be diverted and abused, and for this reason we recommend that its use should be monitored carefully."
Consultant psychiatrist Professor Tim Kendall, who has compiled national guidelines on treating ADHD, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the increase in prescriptions was a worry.
He said: "I think it's a real trend. I think it's too big to be ignored."
Asked if there are any dangers to people who take methylphenidate drugs over a long period, Prof Kendall said: "Oh yeah. In children without doubt. If you take Ritalin for a year, it's likely to reduce your growth by about three-quarters of an inch.
"I think there's also increasing evidence that it precipitates self-harming behaviour in children and in the long term we have absolutely no evidence that the use of of Ritalin reduces the long-term problems associated with ADHD.
"Having said that, if you've got a kid with severe ADHD, it's very difficult to treat them psychologically without using Ritalin as well."
Common symptoms of ADHD include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Symptoms tend to be first noticed at an early age and it is normally diagnosed between the ages of three and seven.
It is estimated that the condition affects 2% to 5% of school children and young people. However, it can be a lifelong condition and many people continue to show symptoms in adulthood.
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