Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the primary treatment for add. The medications can include stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Stimulant medication should not be used in patients with active substance abuse issues, however they are an option for those who are in stable remission. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels between the brain's synapses. This improves focus and reduces the intensity of impulses and hyperactivity. Most doctors prescribe stimulant medications to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. Both are similar drugs. The dosage of the medicine is contingent on the biochemistry of each person and how they respond to it. It could take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to be apparent. The medicine will work if you notice improvements in memory, concentration sleep, impulsivity, and sleep.
The medicines in this class may cause side effects, such as reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and they can raise heart rate and blood pressure. People with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take them. These are highly controlled drugs that are prone to abuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, and in certain circumstances general practitioners can prescribe them. You can get them in the form or pills, tablets patches, or patches that are applied to the skin or in liquids.
adhd treatment for adults and adolescents who are taking stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. They can also develop symptoms of tics if the dose is too high. In this situation the doctor will decrease the dose to stop the symptoms from getting worse.
Stimulant medication is used by about 70% to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. A majority of children and young adults find that their symptoms improve through treatment. This is particularly the case for children with parents, teachers or other caregivers who have reported improvements.
Early use of stimulants could lower the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk for substance use disorders in adolescence, but that this protective effect wanes as we enter early adulthood.