Treatment For ADHD
The most effective treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications can include stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine, and nonstimulants like atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Stimulant medications should not be used in patients who have active addiction issues, but they can be considered in those who are in stable in remission. Combination therapy using antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is a different option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves concentration and decreases impulses and hyperactivity. Most doctors prescribe stimulant medications to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. These are both very similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on a person's individual biochemistry and how well they respond to the medication. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and a decrease in impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Some of the side effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take them. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs that are prone to abuse. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in some situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. You can find them in the form or tablets, pills, patches that go on the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants often suffer from weight loss and eating disorders. When the dose is too high, they may also develop tics. In this instance the doctor will lower the dosage to prevent the drug from causing more symptoms.
Around 70 to 80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and young people experience improvement in their symptoms with treatment. This is particularly relevant for children who have parents, teachers or carers that can report improvements.
Early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in life. Highly recommended Internet page , Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of acquiring substance addiction disorders during the adolescent years. However this protective effect fades by early adulthood.