Treatment For ADHD
The most common treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications can include stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.
Stimulant medication should not be used in patients who have active substance abuse problems but they are a possibility for those who are in stable remission. treatment for adult add with antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is a different option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. Both are similar medications. The type prescribed will depend on a person's biochemistry as well as how well they react to the medicine. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become evident. The medicine will work if you notice improvements in your concentration, memory sleep, and impulsivity.
Some of the side effects can include a decreased appetite, difficulty 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. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs that are prone to abuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, and in certain situations general practitioners can prescribe them. You can get them in the form or tablets, pills patches that can be applied to the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants frequently experience problems with appetite and weight loss. If the dosage is too high, they can also develop tics. In this situation the doctor will decrease the dose to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.
Stimulant medicines are used for about 70% to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. The majority of children and young people find that their symptoms improve through treatment. This is especially the case for children who have teachers, parents, or carers who can observe improvements.
Early use of stimulants may reduce the risk for drug use disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance abuse disorders in adolescence, but that this protective effect wanes as we enter early adulthood.