A Journey Back In Time: How People Talked About Treatment For ADD 20 Years Ago
Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for adding. These medications include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Patients with active issues with addiction shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, adhd symptoms and treatment who are in stable remission may look into them. Combination treatment 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 and impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class 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 react to it. It could take anywhere from five to seven days before the full effects of the medication are evident. Improved concentration, better memory, improved sleep, and reduced impulsivity are all signs that the medicine is working.
Some of the side effects include decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Certain people with an illness like high blood pressure or heart disease should not use these medications. They are controlled substances that are prone to misuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or in certain cases general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. You can get them in the form or tablets, pills patches that can be applied to the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. If the dosage is excessive, they could also develop the tics. If this happens, the doctor may reduce the dosage to stop the drug from causing worsening of symptoms.
Stimulant medicines are used for approximately 70-80 percent of adults and children with ADHD. The majority of children and adolescents find that their symptoms get better when treated. This is particularly the case for children who have teachers, parents or caregivers who observe improvements.
The early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 have found that stimulant treatment reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in adolescents, but the protective effect diminishes by early adulthood.