Treatment For ADHD
The main treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The drugs include stimulants like methylphenidate, amphetamine, and Atomoxetine. They may also be non-stimulants like clonidine or guanfacine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those in stable remission may take them into consideration. Combination therapy using antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medication from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They can prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. Both are similar drugs. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the person's individual biochemistry and how well they react to the drug. It could take up to seven days for the full effects of a medication to become evident. Increased concentration, improved memory, better sleep and reduced impulsivity are all signs that the medication is working.
Medications in this class can cause side effects, such as decreased appetite and trouble sleeping, and may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with a medical condition like high blood pressure or heart disease should not take them. They are controlled substances with a potential for misuse. Only adult treatment for adhd , psychiatrists or neurologists, and in some situations general practitioners can prescribe them. They are available in the form or tablets, pills, patches that go on the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants often experience appetite problems and weight loss. When the dose is too high, they may also develop tics. In this situation the doctor will lower the dose to stop the symptoms from getting worse.
Stimulant medication is used by around 70 to 80% of children and adults with ADHD. Most children and young people notice that their symptoms improve with treatment. This is especially true for those with teachers, parents, or carers who can observe improvements.
The early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance abuse disorders in adolescents, but the protective effect diminishes by early adulthood.