Treatment For ADHD

The most effective alternative treatments for adhd for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications used to treat adhd include stimulants such as methylphenidate, amphetamine and atomoxetine. They may also be non-stimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine.

Patients who have active issues with substance abuse shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those in stable remission can look into them. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.

Stimulants

Stimulants boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulses. Most doctors prescribe stimulant drugs to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar medicines. The kind of medicine prescribed is based on the biochemistry of each person and how they react to it. It may take up to seven days for the full effects of a medication to become evident. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep and reduced impulsivity are all signs of untreated adhd that the medicine is working.

Some of the side effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure should not take these medications. They are highly prone for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists or paediatricians or in certain cases, general practitioners, can prescribe stimulants. They can be found in the form of pills or tablets or patches that are placed on the skin, or liquids.

Children and adolescents who consume stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. When the dose is excessive, they could also develop symptoms of tics. If this happens, the doctor may reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from leading to a worsening of symptoms.

Stimulant medication is used by approximately 70-80 percent of adults and children with inattentive adhd treatment adults - click here to read -. Most children and young people experience improvement in their symptoms with treatment. This is particularly relevant for children with teachers, parents, or inattentive adhd treatment Adults carers who can observe improvements.

The early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens, and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in the adolescent years. However the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.