Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the primary treatment for adding. These medications include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine and clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Stimulant medications should not be used in patients who have active substance abuse problems but they are an option for those who are in stable recovery. Combination therapy using antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is another option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine that are released between brain synapses. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They can prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. These are both very similar medications. The type of medication prescribed will depend on a person's biochemistry as well as how well they respond to the drug. treatments for adhd could take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to become apparent. Increased concentration, improved memory, better sleep and a decrease in the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.
These medications can have side effects, including reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and they can increase heart rate and blood pressure. People with medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take them. They are highly prone for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in some situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. They can be found in the form of tablets or pills, a patch that goes on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who consume stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. They may also experience disorders when the dose is too high. In this situation, the doctor will reduce the dose to prevent the drug from causing more symptoms.
About 70-80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant medications. The majority of children and young people find that their symptoms improve when they receive treatment. This is especially relevant for children who have parents, teachers or other caregivers who report improvement.
The early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that stimulant treatment reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders during adolescence, however the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.