Check Out: How Treatment For ADD Is Taking Over And How To Respond Treatment For ADHD

Psychosocial therapy is the primary treatment for adding. These medications include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.

Stimulant medications should not be used by patients with active substance abuse issues, however they are an option for those who are in stable in remission. adhd treatments adults with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.


Stimulants

Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They can prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. These are both very similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on a individual's biochemistry and how well they respond to the medication. It can take up to seven days for the full effects of a drug to become apparent. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep, and a decrease in the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.

Some of the side effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Some people who have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease shouldn't take these medications. Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, and in some situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. They are available in the form of tablets or pills, a patch that goes on the skin, or liquids.

Children and adolescents who take stimulants often experience appetite problems and weight loss. When the dose is excessive, they could also develop symptoms of tics. In this situation the doctor will decrease the dosage to prevent the drug from worsening symptoms.

Around 70 to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms improve after being treated. This is particularly the case for children who have teachers, parents, or carers who can report improvements.

Early use of stimulants could lower the risk of developing drug use disorders later in life. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman and colleagues83, found that stimulant therapy reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in adolescence. However this protective effect fades in the early years of adulthood.