It's The Evolution Of ADD Treatments For Adults ADHD Treatments For Adults


Adults are able to benefit from the same therapies as children. These treatments include medication, counseling (psychotherapy), and life skills training. They can also involve the combination of these therapies.

Stimulant Medications

These drugs work by increasing brain chemicals that control self-regulation and attention. They include methylphenidate, sold as Ritalin and Concerta, and stimulants in the amphetamine family, such as lisdexamphetamine. This is marketed under the brand name Adderall and Vyvanse.

Stimulant Medications

Stimulants boost the body's metabolism and can lead to increased mental alertness and physical activity. These include legal substances such as caffeine (added in tea and coffee) nicotine, prescription drugs used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and narcolepsy and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants may create over-stimulation, which can cause anxiety and heart palpitations, as well as hypertension, paranoia and aggression. For some long-term usage of stimulants can harm the the dopamine system in the brain and decrease pleasure-seeking feelings. Stimulants are available in liquids, patches or pills. Illegally obtained and abused stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines.

Iam Psychiatry in this class are also known as central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. They function by increasing the quantity of certain chemicals in the brain that improve concentration, decrease fatigue, and boost alertness. They are the initial line of treatment for adults suffering from ADD or ADHD. They can be a formula that acts quickly that is taken in the morning, or a longer-acting drug that is active throughout the duration of the day such as Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta Ritalin, Concerta).

The health care team could also recommend psychosocial interventions, such as psychotherapy or educational. It is crucial to track the effectiveness of medicines over time. This is an extremely difficult task.

Non-stimulant Medications

About 15%-30 percentage of children don't respond to stimulant drugs and this is probably to be the case for adults as well. The non-stimulant medications take longer time to work and may take several weeks before you begin to notice any effects. They don't come with the same side effects and are a better choice if you cannot tolerate stimulants or fear addiction.