Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for adding. The drugs include stimulants such as methylphenidate, amphetamine, and atomoxetine. They may also be non-stimulants, such as clonidine and guanfacine.
Patients with active issues with addiction should not take stimulant medications. However, those in stable remission might consider them. Combination therapy using antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain's synapses. This improves concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe stimulant drugs to treat ADHD. Iam Psychiatry may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. They are both similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the individual's biochemistry and how well they react to the drug. It could take anywhere from five to seven days before the full effects of the medication are visible. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep and reduced impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Medications in this class can have adverse effects, including diminished appetite and trouble sleeping, and they may raise heart rate and blood pressure. Patients with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure should not use them. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs with the potential for misuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians, or in some cases general practitioners, may prescribe stimulants. You can find them in the form or pills, tablets patches that can be applied to the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants often suffer from weight loss and a lack of appetite. They can also develop disorders when the dose is too high. In this situation the doctor will lower the dose to stop the drug from causing more symptoms.
About 70% to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and adolescents find that their symptoms improve when treated. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers or other caregivers that can report improvements.
Early use of stimulants may reduce the risk of developing substance use disorders in later life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance use disorders in adolescence, but the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.