Treatment For ADHD
The most common treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). Medications can include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.
Patients with active issues with addiction should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission may look into them. Combination therapy using antidepressants especially SSRIs, is another option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels between the brain's synapses. This improves focus and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. Most doctors prescribe stimulant medications to treat ADHD. They can prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. These are both very similar drugs. The kind of medicine prescribed is based on the biochemistry of each person and how they respond to it. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. The medication will be effective for you if you notice improvement in concentration, memory sleep, impulsivity, and sleep.
Some of the adverse effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Some people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease shouldn't take these medications. They are controlled substances with the potential for abuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or, in some instances general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. You can get them in the form or pills, tablets patches that can be applied to the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants frequently experience problems with appetite and weight loss. They can also develop tics when the dose is too high. In treating add , the doctor will reduce the dosage to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.
The use of stimulant medications is for approximately 70-80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. The majority of adolescents and children find that their symptoms improve after being treated. This is especially true for those with parents, teachers, or carers who can observe improvements.
The early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of substance use disorders later in the course of. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk for substance use disorders during adolescence, however that this protective effect wanes by early adulthood.