Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications can include stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as nonstimulants like atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission might look into them. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar medications. The dosage of the medicine is contingent on the biochemistry of each individual and how they respond to it. It may take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to become apparent. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep, and reduced impulse control are all indications that the medication is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with an illness, such as high blood pressure or heart disease shouldn't take these medications. They are highly prone for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in certain situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. You can find them in the form or tablets, pills, patches that go on the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants often experience appetite problems and weight loss. They can also develop tics when the dosage is too high. In this instance the doctor will lower the dose to stop the
symptoms of adhd in adults and treatment from getting worse.
The use of stimulant medications is for around 70 to 80 percent of adults and children with treating adhd and depression in adults (
read the article). A majority of children and young adults notice that their symptoms improve through treatment. This is particularly the case for children who have teachers, parents or caregivers who report improvements.
Early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in the adolescent period. However, this protective effect fades by early adulthood.
