Treatment For ADHD
The most common treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). Medications can include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and gu.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those who are in stable remission might consider them. Combination therapy with antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is a different option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. treating adults with adhd improves concentration and reduces impulses and hyperactivity. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are similar medicines. The dosage of the medicine is contingent on the biochemistry of each individual and how they respond to it. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep, and less impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Medications in this class can cause side effects, such as decreased appetite and trouble sleeping, and may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure should not take them. These are highly controlled drugs with the potential for misuse. Only paediatricians or psychiatrists or, in some instances, general practitioners, can prescribe stimulants. You can find them in the form of tablets, pills patches, or patches that are applied to the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often affected by weight loss and a lack of appetite. They can also develop symptoms of tics if the dose is too high. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from leading to a worsening of symptoms.
About 70% to 80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant medications. Most children and young people experience improvement in their symptoms when they receive treatment. This is particularly the case for children who have teachers, parents, or carers who can observe improvements.
The early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders during the adolescent years. However this protective effect fades as we enter early adulthood.