The 10 Scariest Things About Treatment For ADD
treatment adult adhd For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for add. Medications can include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those in stable remission might look into them. Combination therapy with antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is a different option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels between synapses in the brain. This helps improve concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. These are both very similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each individual and how they react to it. It could take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to become evident. The medicine will work when you notice improvements in your concentration, memory sleep, impulsivity, and sleep.
Some of the side 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 shouldn't take these medications. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs with a potential for Treatment for add abuse. Only psychiatrists or paediatricians or in certain cases general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form of pills or tablets or patches that are placed on the skin, or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who consume stimulants frequently experience problems with appetite and weight loss. They can also develop symptoms of tics if the dosage is too high. If this occurs, the doctor will reduce the dosage to stop the drug from causing worsening of symptoms.
Stimulant medication is used by about 70% to 80% of children and adults with ADHD. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms get better when treated. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers, or caregivers who report improvement.
The early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later in life. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83 discovered that treatment for add with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders during adolescence. However the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.