Treatment For ADHD

The main treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications contain stimulants such as methylphenidate amphetamine, and atomoxetine. They also include non-stimulants, such as clonidine and Guanfacine.

Stimulant medication should not be used by patients who have active substance abuse issues, however they are an option for those who are in stable recovery. Combination therapy using antidepressants especially SSRIs, is a different option.

Stimulants

Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between the brain's synapses. This helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. These are both very similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each person and how they respond to it. It could take up to seven days for full effects of a drug to become apparent. The medicine will be effective for you if you notice improvement in your concentration, memory sleep, impulsivity, and sleep.

Some of the adverse effects include decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, should not use them. The stimulants have a high risk for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in certain situations general practitioners can prescribe them. They are available in the form of tablets or pills or patches that go on the skin, or in liquids.

Children and adolescents who are taking stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. They may also experience symptoms of tics if the dose is too high. In this case the doctor will lower the dose natural ways to treat adhd prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

Stimulant medicines are used for about 70% to 80 percent of adults and children with treating adhd and depression in adults. The majority of adolescents and children find that their symptoms improve when adhd goes untreated treated. This is particularly relevant for children with teachers, parents or caregivers who be able to report improvements.

The early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance use disorders during adolescence, however that this protective effect wanes by early adulthood.