Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the main treatment for add. Medications can include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those in stable remission might consider them. Combination therapy with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels between synapses in the brain. I Am Psychiatry improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar medications. The kind of medicine prescribed is based on the biochemistry of each individual and how they react to it. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication are visible. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep and less the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.
These medications can cause side effects, such as decreased appetite and trouble sleeping, and they may raise heart rate and blood pressure. People suffering from medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure should not take these medications. They are highly prone for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists or paediatricians or, in some instances, general practitioners, can prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form of tablets or pills or patches that are placed on the skin, or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who are dependent on stimulants often suffer from weight loss and eating disorders. They may also experience symptoms of tics if the dosage is too high. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from causing worsening of symptoms.
About 70-80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms improve when treated. This is especially the case for children who have parents, teachers or caregivers who report improvements.
Early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing addiction disorders later in the course of. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 have found that stimulant treatment reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in adolescents, but the protective effect diminishes in the early years of adulthood.