Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the main treatment for add. The drugs include stimulants such as methylphenidate amphetamine, and atomoxetine. They may also be non-stimulants like clonidine or guanfacine.
Patients with active issues with addiction should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission might consider them. Combination therapy with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain's synapses. This improves concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medication from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. They are both similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each patient and how they respond to it. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become evident. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and reduced the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medicine is working.
Some of the side effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People suffering from medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take these medications. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs with a potential for misuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in certain situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. They are available in the form or tablets, pills, patches that go on the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who are dependent on stimulants are often affected by weight loss and eating disorders. When the dose is excessive, they could also develop symptoms of tics. If this occurs, the doctor will reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from leading to a worsening of symptoms.
About 70-80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant medications. The majority of children and young people experience improvement in their symptoms with treatment. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers or carers who report improvement.
The early use of stimulants may reduce the risk of substance use disorders later in life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83, found that stimulant therapy reduces the risk of acquiring substance addiction disorders during adolescence. However adult add treatments diminishes in the early years of adulthood.