Treatment For adhd treatment medication

The most effective treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications contain stimulants such as methylphenidate amphetamine, and Atomoxetine. They may also be non-stimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine.

Patients with active issues with addiction should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission can adhd get worse if untreated (click over here) look into them. Combination therapy with antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is another option.

Stimulants

Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe stimulant medications to treat ADHD. They may recommend methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on a person’s individual biochemistry and how well they respond to the medicine. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. Increased concentration, improved memory, better sleep and less impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.

Some of the adverse effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure should not take these medications. The stimulants have a high risk for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists or paediatricians, or in some cases, general practitioners, can prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form or pills, tablets patches, or patches that are applied to the skin or liquids.

Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often affected by weight loss and eating disorders. When the dose is too high, they can also develop symptoms of tics. In this situation the doctor will lower the dose to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

About 70% to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms get better when treated. This is especially the case for children who have parents, teachers, or carers who can be able to report improvements.

Early use of stimulants could reduce the risk of developing drug use disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that stimulant treatment reduces the risk for substance use disorders during adolescence, however that this protective effect wanes as we enter early adulthood.