Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for add. The medications can include stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and gu.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission can consider them. Combination therapy using antidepressants particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This improves concentration and decreases impulses and hyperactivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. These are both very similar drugs. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each person and how they respond to it. It can take up to seven days for the full effects of a medication to become evident. The medicine will work for you if you notice improvement in concentration, memory sleep, impulsivity, and sleep.
Some of the side effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with medical conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease, shouldn't take them. They are highly prone for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in some situations general practitioners can prescribe them. You can find them in the form of pills, tablets patches, or patches that are applied to the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who use stimulants are often affected by weight loss and appetite problems. If the dosage is too high, they can also develop tics. If this happens, the doctor may reduce the dosage to prevent the drug from causing a worsening of symptoms.
About 70-80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant medications. The majority of children and adolescents find that their symptoms improve when treated. This is especially true for those who have parents, teachers or other caregivers that can report improvements.
Early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens colleagues81,82 and Biederman, et al83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of substance addiction disorders during adolescence. However adhd treatments adults fades as we enter early adulthood.