Treatment For ADHD
The main treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). treatment for adult adhd include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as nonstimulants like atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and gu.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission may consider them. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between the brain's synapses. This improves focus and reduces impulses and hyperactivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines which are similar to each other. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the person's biochemistry as well as how well they respond to the drug. It may take up to seven days for the full effects of a drug to become evident. Increased concentration, improved memory, better sleep, and less the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medicine is working.
Some of the side effects can include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure shouldn't take them. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs that are prone to abuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in certain situations general practitioners can prescribe them. They can be found in the form of tablets or pills or patches that go on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often affected by weight loss and appetite problems. They can also develop symptoms of tics if the dosage is too high. In this situation, the doctor will reduce the dose to stop the drug from worsening symptoms.
Stimulant medicines are used for about 70% to 80% of children and adults with ADHD. A majority of children and young adults experience improvement in their symptoms when they receive treatment. This is especially the case for children who have teachers, parents or caregivers who be able to report improvements.
The early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in the course of. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance addiction disorders during adolescence. However, this protective effect fades as we enter early adulthood.