Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The drugs include stimulants such as methylphenidate amphetamine, and atomoxetine. They also include nonstimulants, like clonidine and guanfacine.
here. who have active issues with substance abuse shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those in stable remission may take them into consideration. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine between brain synapses. This improves focus and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. Most doctors prescribe stimulant drugs to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. They are both similar drugs. The kind of medicine prescribed is based on the biochemistry of each patient and how they respond to it. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become apparent. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep, and less impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Medications in this class can have adverse effects, including reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and they may raise blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, should not use these medications. They are controlled substances with the potential for abuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or, in some instances, general practitioners, can prescribe stimulants. You can get 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 a lack of appetite. They can also develop disorders when the dose is too high. If this happens, the doctor may reduce the dosage to stop the drug from causing a worsening of symptoms.
About 70-80 percent of adults and children with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms improve after being treated. This is particularly relevant for children who have parents, teachers or other caregivers who have reported improvements.
The early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later in the course of. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk for substance use disorders in adolescence, but the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.