10 Sites To Help You Develop Your Knowledge About Medication For ADHD
Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people who suffer from ADHD have their symptoms improved with medication. Every person's reaction to medication is different, and the side effects are sometimes problematic.
Methylphenidate belongs to a class of drugs referred to as stimulants. It is a stimulant that increases levels of a substance in the brain that helps control attention and behavior.
Stimulant medication
Stimulant medication improves attention and concentration for 70 to 80% of children and adults that use it. They alter the activity of neurotransmitters that are essential in the brain, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. They usually cause an initial rise in blood pressure and heart rate that lasts for several hours. Due to this, many experts recommend that people start with a lower dose and increase it to the optimal dose over the course of weeks.
Stimulant medications are typically taken orally, one or twice daily. They are generally available in short- and long-acting formulas. Short-acting stimulants begin to show their effects after a few hours and should be taken 3 times a day. Long-acting stimulants last 8-12 hours and are taken once every day.
These medications can cause undesirable side effects, including insomnia, nausea and a loss of appetite. Some people might become irritable or moody. However these effects tend to disappear over time and are able to be controlled by altering the dosage. In certain instances, stimulants can cause changes in personality, such as becoming more withdrawn, irritable or becoming more rigid and obsessive. adhd medication for adults may also raise the risk of developing other psychiatric issues, like depression and mania.
Most stimulants are controlled drugs and require prescription. They are often misused by adults and adolescents to achieve performance enhancement, and can cause addiction if taken in a way that is not prescribed. Because of these risks doctors carefully evaluate the need for stimulant medications and keep track of the dosage and adverse effects.
Non-stimulant medications
There are many non-stimulant ADHD treatments and the most effective one is determined by the individual. These are prescription drugs however they don't act on the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants cause less adverse effects, but they can take longer to work and last for only 24 hours. They are mostly effective by increasing the level of norepinephrine in the brain, and include antidepressants like bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor).
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can assist a person in learning how to deal with symptoms and develop new coping skills that include stress management and impulsivity control. BetterHelp, a service that provides online therapy connects people with licensed therapists with expertise in treating ADHD and other mental conditions. Take a free assessment and be connected with a therapist in as little as 48 hours. Stimulant and non-stimulant medication can help people suffering from ADHD improve their ability to focus and decrease impulsivity, however they don't address the root causes of the disorder. In addition to talking therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and mindfulness-based therapies can teach a person strategies to manage their an impulsive personality and improve their ability to manage their emotions. adhd medication for adults can be learned by an ADHD coach or by experimenting with a trained therapist. They can also be taught to parents and caregivers so that they can support the adult or child with ADHD in these areas. In certain situations it is suggested to combine medication and talk therapy may be the best approach.