Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the main treatment for adding. These medications include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants like atomoxetine and clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those in stable remission may consider them. Combination therapy with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between the brain's synapses. This improves concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medication from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines which are similar to each other. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each patient and how they respond to it. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. Increased concentration, improved memory, better sleep and a decrease in impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with a medical condition like high blood pressure or heart disease should not take them. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs that are prone to abuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, neurologists, and in certain situations general practitioners can prescribe them. adhd treatment in adults are available in the form of tablets or pills or patches that are placed on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. They may also experience tics when the dose is too high. In this instance, the doctor will reduce the dose to stop the drug from worsening symptoms.
The use of stimulant medications is for approximately 70-80% of children and adults with ADHD. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms get better when treated. This is particularly relevant for children who have parents, teachers or other caregivers that can report improvements.
The early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later in the course of. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that stimulant treatment reduces the risk of developing substance abuse disorders during adolescence, however the protective effect diminishes in the early years of adulthood.