Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications can include stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, and non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Stimulant medication are not recommended for patients with active addiction issues, but they are an option for those who are in stable recovery. Combination therapy using antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is a different option.
treatment for adhd adults
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain's synapses. This improves focus and reduces impulses and hyperactivity. Most doctors prescribe medication from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may recommend methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines which are similar medicines. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the individual's biochemistry and how well they react to the drug. It could take up to seven days for full effects of a drug to become evident. Increased concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and less impulsivity are all signs that the medication is working.
Some of the side effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Some people who have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease should not take them. They are controlled substances with a potential for misuse. Only paediatricians or psychiatrists or in certain cases general practitioners, may prescribe stimulants. You can find them in the form of tablets, pills, patches that go on the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who consume stimulants often experience appetite problems and weight loss. They may also experience disorders when the dosage is too high. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from causing worsening of symptoms.
About 70-80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of adolescents and children find that their symptoms improve after being treated. This is especially relevant for children with teachers, parents or caregivers who observe improvements.
Early use of stimulants could reduce the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance abuse disorders in adolescence, but that this protective effect wanes in the early years of adulthood.