adhd in adults treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for add. The medications include stimulants such as methylphenidate amphetamine, and atomoxetine. They can also be nonstimulants, like clonidine and guanfacine.
Patients with active issues with addiction should not take stimulant medications. However, those who are in stable remission may consider them. Combination therapy with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine between brain synapses. This improves focus and reduces the intensity of impulses and hyperactivity. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar medicines. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each individual and how they react to it. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become apparent. Improved concentration, better memory, improved sleep, and a decrease in impulsivity are all signs that the medicine is working.
Some of the side effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Some people with an illness like high blood pressure or heart disease should not take them. Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in some situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. They can be found in the form of tablets or pills 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. In this situation the doctor will decrease the dose to prevent the drug from causing more symptoms.
Stimulant medication is used by around 70 to 80% of children and adults with ADHD. A majority of children and young adults experience improvement in their symptoms when they receive treatment. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers or other caregivers who report improvement.
Early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing drug use disorders later in life. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82 and Biederman, et al83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance addiction disorders during the adolescent years. However the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.