Treatment For ADD It's Not As Hard As You Think

Treatment For ADHD

The most common treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). These medications include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and nonstimulants like atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.

Patients with active issues with addiction should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission may look into them. Combination therapy with antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.

Stimulants

Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between the brain's synapses. This helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medication from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. Both are similar drugs. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on a individual's biochemistry and how well they react to the drug. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication are visible. Increased concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and a decrease in the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.

Some of the side effects can include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.  treatment for adhd in adults  with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not use these medications. They are highly prone for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in certain situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. They are available in the form of pills, tablets patches that can be applied to the skin or in liquids.

Children and adolescents who use stimulants often suffer from weight loss and a lack of appetite. If the dosage is too high, they can also develop the tics. In this case the doctor will lower the dose to stop the drug from causing more symptoms.

Around 70 to 80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. Most children and young people experience improvement in their symptoms through treatment. This is particularly true for those who have parents, teachers, or caregivers who have reported improvements.

Early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of substance use disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that stimulant treatment reduces the risk of developing substance abuse disorders in adolescence, but the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.