Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the primary treatment for add. The drugs include stimulants such as methylphenidate, amphetamine, and atomoxetine. They may also be nonstimulants, like clonidine and Guanfacine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues should not take stimulant medications. However, those in stable remission can consider them. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine between brain synapses. This improves concentration and decreases 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 medications. The type of medication prescribed will depend on the person's biochemistry as well as how well they react to the medication. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication are visible. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep and a decrease in impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Some people who have medical conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease should not take these medications. They are controlled substances that are prone to misuse. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in some situations, general practitioners may 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 are dependent on stimulants are often affected by weight loss and eating disorders. They may also experience tics when the dose is too high. If how to treat adhd occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from causing a worsening of symptoms.
Stimulant medication is used by approximately 70-80 percent of adults and children 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 other caregivers who report improvement.
The early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of substance use disorders later on in the course of. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk for substance use disorders in adolescents, but that this protective effect wanes in the early years of adulthood.
