Treatment For ADHD
The most effective treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). These medications include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, and nonstimulants like atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and gu.
Patients with active substance abuse issues shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, treating adult adhd in stable remission may take them into consideration. Combination therapy using antidepressants particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This helps improve concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe stimulant medications to treat ADHD. They can prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. Both are similar drugs. The type prescribed will depend on the person's biochemistry as well as how well they react to the medicine. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication are visible. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and less impulsivity are all signs that the medicine is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People with medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure should not take them. They are controlled substances with the potential for abuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or in certain cases general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They can be found in the form of pills or tablets or patches that are placed on the skin, or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants frequently experience problems with appetite and weight loss. They may also experience disorders when the dosage is too high. In this instance the doctor will lower the dosage to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.
About 70-80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and young people notice that their symptoms improve with treatment. This is particularly true for those who have parents, teachers or carers who report improvement.
The early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of substance addiction disorders during adolescence. However the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.