15 Secretly Funny People Working In Medication For ADHD
Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people with ADHD experience a reduction in symptoms when they use medication. Every person's reaction to medication is different, and side effects can be a problem.
Methylphenidate is a stimulant. It works by raising levels of a chemical in the brain that aids in controlling attention and behavior.
Stimulant medication
Stimulants enhance concentration and attention in 70 to 80% of children and adults who use them. They work by altering the activity of neurotransmitters that are essential in the brain, like dopamine and norepinephrine. Typically, they cause an initial increase in heart rate and blood pressure that lasts for a few hours. A lot of experts recommend that you start low and gradually increase the dosage over several weeks.
Stimant medication is taken by mouth, typically once or twice a day. There are short-acting as well as long-acting versions for most stimulants. Short-acting stimulating drugs peak within a couple of hours, and should be taken two times a day. Long-acting stimulating drugs last 8-12 hours, and are only taken every week.
source for this article can cause undesirable side effects, such as insomnia, nausea, and a loss of appetite. Some people can become angry or moody. However these effects tend to disappear over time and are able to be controlled by adjusting the dosage. In some instances, stimulants can cause changes in personality, like becoming more withdrawn, irritable or more rigid and obsessive. They may also raise the risk of developing other psychiatric issues, like depression and mania.
The majority of stimulants are controlled substances and require prescription. Adolescents and adults misuse them to enhance performance. They may become addicted when they aren't taken in the correct manner or as directed. Because of these dangers, doctors must be cautious in assessing the need for stimulant medication and monitor the dosage and adverse effects closely.
Non-stimulant medications
There are a variety of non-stimulant ADHD treatments, and the best one is dependent on the individual. These are prescription medicines however they do not have the same effect on brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants are less likely to cause negative side effects, but they can take longer to work and last only for a period of 24 hours. They are mostly effective by increasing the levels of norepinephrine that is present in the brain, and include antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor).
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can assist a person in learning how to cope with symptoms and learn new coping skills that include stress management and impulsivity control. BetterHelp, a service that offers therapy online connects people with licensed therapists who specialize in treating ADHD and other mental conditions. You can get matched to a therapist within 48 hours after taking a free online assessment. The use of stimulants and non-stimulants can help those with ADHD improve their ability to concentrate and decrease impulsivity, however they don't address some of the underlying causes of the disorder. Cognitive mindfulness and behavioral therapy can be used in conjunction with talk therapy to teach people how to manage their impulse-driven behavior. These techniques can be taught by an ADHD coach, or practiced by a trained therapist. Parents and caregivers can be taught these techniques so they can help their child or adult who suffers from ADHD. In certain cases, a combination between medication and therapy could be the best option.