Treatment For ADHD
The most common treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). Medications can include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, and nonstimulants like atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Stimulant medication should not be used in patients who have active substance abuse issues, however they are a possibility for those who are in stable recovery. Combination therapy using antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain's synapses. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. These are both very similar medications. The dosage of the medicine is contingent on the biochemistry of each patient and how they respond to it. It may take up to seven days for the full effects of a drug to become apparent. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep and a decrease in impulsivity are all signs that the medication is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease shouldn't take these medications. They are highly prone for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only adhd adults treatment or paediatricians or in certain cases general practitioners, may prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form of tablets or pills, a patch that goes on the skin, or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often afflicted by weight loss and eating disorders. They may also experience tics when the dosage is too high. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to prevent the drug from leading to a worsening of symptoms.
Around 70 to 80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms get better when treated. This is especially true for those with teachers, parents, or carers who can report improvements.
The early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of developing drug use disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance use disorders during adolescence, however the protective effect diminishes in the early years of adulthood.