10 Things We All Love About Treatment For ADD

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Treatment For ADHD

The main treatments for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications contain stimulants such as methylphenidate amphetamine and atomoxetine. They may also be non-stimulants, such as clonidine and Guanfacine.

Patients who have active issues with substance abuse shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those in stable remission might consider them. Combination therapy using antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is another option.

Stimulants

Stimulants boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain's synapses. This helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines which are similar medicines. The type of medication prescribed will depend on the person's individual biochemistry and how well they respond to the medicine. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become apparent. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep, and a decrease in the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medicine is working.

Medications in this class can have adverse effects, including reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and they may raise blood pressure and heart rate. Some people who have an illness such as high blood pressure or heart disease shouldn't take them. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs with the potential for abuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in some situations general practitioners can prescribe them. They are available in the form of tablets or pills, a patch that goes on the skin, or liquids.

Children and adolescents who consume stimulants often experience appetite problems and weight loss. They may also experience tics when the dosage is too high. If this occurs, the doctor will reduce the dosage to prevent the drug from causing worsening of symptoms.

Around 70 to 80 percent of adults and children with ADHD are iampsychiatry.com treated with stimulant drugs. The majority of adolescents and children find that their symptoms improve after being treated. This is particularly relevant for children with parents, teachers, or carers who can report improvements.

The early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in the course of. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of substance addiction disorders during the adolescent period. However the protective effect diminishes in the early years of adulthood.