Treatment For ADHD
The most effective treatments for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). These medications include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse should not take stimulant medications. However, those in stable remission might take them into consideration. Combination therapy with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain's synapses. This helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. treatment for add in adults are similar drugs. The type of medication prescribed will depend on a person's individual biochemistry and how well they react to the medicine. It could take anywhere from five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become apparent. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and a decrease in impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Medications in this class can cause side effects, such as reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and they may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Some people who have an illness such as high blood pressure or heart disease, should not take them. Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in certain situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. You can find them in the form of pills, tablets, patches that go on the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who consume stimulants frequently experience problems with appetite and weight loss. They may also experience tics when the dose is too high. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to stop the drug from causing a worsening of symptoms.
Stimulant medication is used by approximately 70-80% of children and adults with ADHD. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms get better when treated. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers or carers who have reported improvements.
Early use of stimulants may reduce the risk of developing drug use disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that stimulant treatment reduces the risk for substance use disorders in adolescence, but the protective effect diminishes by early adulthood.