Treatment For ADHD
The most effective treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications include stimulants like methylphenidate, amphetamine and Atomoxetine. They also include non-stimulants, such as clonidine and guanfacine.
Patients with active issues with addiction shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those who are in stable remission may take them into consideration. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine between brain synapses. This helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe stimulant drugs to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines which are similar to each other. The dosage of the medicine is contingent on the biochemistry of each person and how they respond to it. It could take anywhere from five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become evident. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep, and reduced impulse control are all indications that the medicine is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People suffering from medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take these medications. Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in certain circumstances general practitioners can prescribe them. They are available in the form of tablets or pills or patches that are placed on the skin, or in liquids.
Iam Psychiatry and adolescents who take stimulants frequently experience problems with appetite and weight loss. They can also develop symptoms of tics if the dose is too high. If this occurs, the doctor might reduce the dosage to prevent the drug from causing a worsening of symptoms.
Stimulant medication is used by around 70 to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. A majority of children and young adults experience improvement in their symptoms with treatment. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers, or caregivers who have reported improvements.
Early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of substance use disorders later on in the course of. Wilens Katusic, Wilens, and colleagues81,82 and Biederman, et al83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of substance use disorders in adolescence. However, this protective effect fades in the early years of adulthood.