Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications contain stimulants such as methylphenidate, amphetamine, and Atomoxetine. They can also be non-stimulants like clonidine or guanfacine.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse are not advised to take stimulant medication. 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 helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They may recommend methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each individual and how they respond to it. It may take up to seven days for the full effects of a medication to become evident. The medicine will work if you notice improvements in memory, concentration sleep, and impulsivity.
Medications in this class can have adverse effects, including decreased appetite and trouble sleeping, and they can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Some people with a medical condition like high blood pressure or heart disease, shouldn't take these medications. The stimulants have a high risk for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only paediatricians or psychiatrists or in certain cases general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form of tablets or pills or patches that are placed on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who are dependent on stimulants often suffer from weight loss and appetite problems. They can also develop tics when the dose is too high. In this case the doctor will decrease the dose to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.
Stimulant medicines are used for approximately 70-80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. treating add of children and adolescents find that their symptoms improve after being treated. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers, or caregivers who have reported improvements.
Early use of stimulants could reduce the risk of developing drug use disorders later in life. Wilens Katusic, Wilens colleagues81,82, and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of acquiring substance use disorders in the adolescent period. However the protective effect diminishes in the early years of adulthood.