Treatment For ADHD
The most common treatments for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). These medications include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and gu.
Stimulant medication should not be used by patients who have active substance abuse problems but they are an option for those who are in stable in remission. Combination therapy with antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
adult adhd treatment
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between the brain's synapses. This helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. They are both similar drugs. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on a person's individual biochemistry and how well they react to the medication. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become evident. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep, and a decrease in impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
The medicines in this class may have adverse effects, including reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and may raise blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease should not use these medications. They are highly prone for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, and in certain situations general practitioners can prescribe them. You can get them in the form or pills, tablets, patches that go on the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants often experience appetite problems and weight loss. When the dose is too high, they can also develop symptoms of tics. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from causing a worsening of symptoms.
The use of stimulant medications is for around 70 to 80% of children and adults with ADHD. A majority of children and young adults find that their symptoms improve with treatment. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers or carers that can report improvements.
The early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance use disorders in adolescents, but the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.