ADHD Treatments For Adults
Adults are able to benefit from many of the same therapies as children. These include medicine, counseling (psychotherapy) and life skills training. They can also involve some combination of these therapies.
Stimulant Medications
These medications work by increasing brain chemicals that control attention and self regulation. They include the chemical methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants belonging to the amphetamine group, such as Lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medications
Stimulants increase the body's energy and can result in increased mental alertness and physical activity. They include legal substances like caffeine (added in coffee and tea) nicotine, prescription drugs that treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy, and hyperactivity. In large doses of stimulants, they can trigger overstimulation which can result in anxiety, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure. They can also trigger aggression and paranoia. Long-term stimulant use can cause the dopamine system of the brain to malfunction and reduce feelings of happiness. Stimulants are available in pills, liquids or patches that are applied to the skin. Cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines are stimulants that can be gotten from a criminal and then used.
treat adhd in adults are also known as central nervous system stimulants. They function by increasing certain chemicals in the brain that boost concentration, decrease fatigue and improve alertness. Adults with ADD and ADHD are treated first by these medications. They can be a formula that acts quickly taken in the morning or a longer-acting medicine that is active throughout the course of the day such as Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin).
The health care team might also recommend psychosocial interventions such as education, psychotherapy or coaching. Monitoring the effectiveness of medications over time is crucial and can be an extremely complex process.
Non-stimulant Medicines
Around 15%-30% of children don't respond to stimulant medications and it's likely that this is the case for adults too. Non-stimulant medications are slower to begin working, and can sometimes take several weeks before you feel the effects. However, they don't carry the same risk of adverse effects as stimulants, and could be a better choice if you can't tolerate them or are worried about addiction.