Treatment For ADHD

Psychosocial therapy is the primary treatment for add. The medications include stimulants such as methylphenidate, amphetamine and Atomoxetine. They can also be nonstimulants, like clonidine and guanfacine.

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

Stimulants

The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine that are released between brain synapses. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. Both are similar medications. The type prescribed will depend on the individual's biochemistry and how well they respond to the medication. It can take up to seven days for full effects of a drug to become apparent. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and less impulsivity are all signs that the medication is working.

These medications can cause side effects, such as reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and they can increase blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with an illness like high blood pressure or heart disease shouldn't take them. These are highly controlled drugs that are prone to abuse. Only psychiatrists or paediatricians or, in some instances general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They can be found in the form of pills or tablets or patches that go on the skin, or liquids.

Children and adolescents who use stimulants often suffer from weight loss and eating disorders. They can also develop tics when the dose is too high. In this case the which doctor treats adhd will lower the dosage to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

About 70-80 percent of adults and children with adhd Treatment Without meds are treated with stimulant medications. The majority of adolescents and children find that their symptoms get better when treated. This is particularly true for those who can treat adhd in adults have parents, teachers, or caregivers who report improvement.

The early use of stimulants what can untreated adhd lead to reduce the risk for substance use disorders in later life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of substance use disorders in the adolescent period. However, this protective effect fades by early adulthood.