Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the main treatment for adding. The medications include stimulants such as methylphenidate, amphetamine and atomoxetine. They can also be nonstimulants, like clonidine and Guanfacine.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those who are in stable remission might look into them. Combination therapy using antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is a different option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain's synapses. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medication from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They can prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. These are both very similar drugs. The type of medication prescribed will depend on a person's biochemistry as well as how well they react to the medication. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become evident. The medicine will work when you notice improvements in concentration, memory sleep, impulsivity, and sleep.
Some of the adverse effects include decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Some people with a medical condition like high blood pressure or heart disease, shouldn't take these medications. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs that are prone to abuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or, in some instances general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form of tablets, pills patches that can be applied to the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. When the dose is too high, they may also develop the tics. In this case the doctor will decrease the dose to prevent the drug from worsening symptoms.
About 70-80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant medications. A majority of children and young adults find that their symptoms improve with treatment. This is especially the case for children who have teachers, parents, or carers who can be able to report improvements.
The early use of stimulants may reduce the risk of substance use disorders later in the course of. natural add treatment , Wilens colleagues81,82 and Biederman, et al83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of substance use disorders during the adolescent years. However the protective effect diminishes in the early years of adulthood.