Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications contain stimulants such as methylphenidate amphetamine and atomoxetine. natural add treatment may also be non-stimulants like clonidine or guanfacine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those who are in stable remission might take them into consideration. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This improves concentration and reduces the intensity of impulses and hyperactivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines which are similar medicines. The type of medicine prescribed depends 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 become evident. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep, and less impulsivity are all signs that the medicine is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People suffering from medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take them. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs that are prone to misuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, and in some circumstances general practitioners can prescribe them. You can get them in the form of tablets, pills, patches that go on the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants frequently experience problems with appetite and weight loss. They may also experience tics when the dosage is too high. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to stop the drug from leading to a worsening of symptoms.
Around 70 to 80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant drugs. A majority of children and young adults experience improvement in their symptoms when they receive treatment. This is especially true for those with teachers, parents, or carers who can be able to report improvements.
Early use of stimulants could reduce the risk of developing substance use disorders in later life. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82 and Biederman, et al83, found that stimulant therapy reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in the adolescent years. However this protective effect fades by early adulthood.