20 Things You Need To Be Educated About Treatment For ADD

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Treatment For ADHD

The most effective treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). These medications include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.

Patients who have active issues with substance abuse shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those in stable remission may consider them. Combination therapy with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.

Stimulants

Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves focus and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They can prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. Both are similar medications. The kind of medicine prescribed is based on the biochemistry of each person and how they respond to it. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. The medicine will be effective for you if you notice improvement in concentration, memory, sleep, and impulsivity.

Some of the side effects include decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take these medications. Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in certain circumstances general practitioners can prescribe them. They are available in the form of pills, tablets, patches that go on the skin or liquids.

Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. If the dosage is too high, they can also develop symptoms of tics. In this instance the doctor will decrease the dose to prevent the drug from causing more symptoms.

Stimulant medicines are used for around 70 to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. Most children and young people experience improvement in their symptoms when they receive treatment. This is especially true for those with teachers, parents, or carers who can be able to report improvements.

Early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of here addiction disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 have found that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk for substance use disorders during adolescence, however the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.