Treatment For ADHD
The most effective treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). Medications can include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those in stable remission may look into them. Combination therapy using antidepressants especially SSRIs, is a different option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. treating adult add prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. Both are similar drugs. The type of medication prescribed will depend on the person's individual biochemistry and how well they react to the medicine. It can take up to seven days for the full effects of a medication to become evident. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and less the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.
The medicines in this class may have adverse effects, including decreased appetite and trouble sleeping, and may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Some people with medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, should not take these medications. They are controlled substances with a potential for misuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or, in some instances general practitioners, may prescribe stimulants. You can find them in the form of 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. If the dosage is too high, they can also develop the tics. In this case the doctor will lower the dosage to prevent the drug from worsening symptoms.
Stimulant medicines are used for around 70 to 80% of children and adults with ADHD. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms improve after being treated. This is particularly true for those who have parents, teachers or other caregivers that can report improvements.
Early use of stimulants could reduce the risk of developing drug use disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance abuse disorders in adolescence, but that this protective effect wanes in the early years of adulthood.
