Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for add. The medications include stimulants like methylphenidate, amphetamine, and Atomoxetine. They may also be nonstimulants, like clonidine and guanfacine.
Patients with active issues with addiction should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission can look into them. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This improves concentration and decreases the intensity of impulses and hyperactivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class 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 patient and how they respond to it. It could take up to seven days for the full effects of a medication to be apparent. The medicine will work if you notice improvements in concentration, memory, sleep, and impulsivity.
Some of the side effects can include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with an illness, such as high blood pressure or heart disease shouldn't take these medications. These are highly controlled drugs with the potential for abuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or, in some instances, 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 in liquids.
Children and adolescents who use stimulants often suffer from weight loss and eating disorders. They can also develop disorders when the dosage is too high. In this situation, the doctor will reduce the dose to prevent the drug from worsening symptoms.
The use of stimulant medications is for approximately 70-80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms improve when treated. This is particularly the case for children with parents, teachers or other caregivers who have reported improvements.
Early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of substance use disorders later in life. her comment is here and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that stimulant treatment reduces the risk of developing substance abuse disorders in adolescents, but that this protective effect wanes as we enter early adulthood.