17 Reasons Not To Not Ignore Medication For ADHD
Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people suffering from ADHD have their symptoms improved by taking medication. Every person's reaction to medication is different, and side effects can be a problem.
Methylphenidate is a stimulant. It is a stimulant that increases levels of a chemical within the brain that assists in controlling attention and behavior.
Stimulant medications
Stimulant drugs enhance concentration and attention in 70% to the 80% of children and adults who take them. They work by altering the activity of key neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine and norepinephrine. Typically, they trigger an initial increase in heart rate and blood pressure that lasts for several hours. A lot of experts recommend that you begin with a low dose and gradually increase your dose over several weeks.
Stimulant medications are typically taken orally, one or twice a day. Most are available in both short- and long-acting formulas. Short-acting stimulants are peaking in a few hours, and must be taken twice a day. Long-acting stimulants last between 8 and 12 hours, and are only taken every week.
These drugs may cause unwanted adverse effects, like insomnia, nausea, and a loss of appetite. adhd medication uk I Am Psychiatry may become irritable or moody. However these effects tend to disappear over time and are able to be controlled by changing the dosage. In some cases stimulants can change your personality. You might become more withdrawn and sluggish, or obsessive and rigid. They may also raise the risk of other mental health issues, such as mania and depression.
The majority of stimulants are controlled substances and require prescription. Adults and adolescents use these substances to boost performance. They can become addicted when they aren't used properly or as prescribed. Because of these risks, doctors are very careful to evaluate the need for stimulant medications and to monitor dosage and side effects carefully.
Non-stimulant drugs
There are a variety of non-stimulant ADHD medications, and the best one is dependent on the individual. These are prescription drugs however they do not act on the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants have fewer negative effects, but take longer to act and last for only 24 hours. Most of these drugs work by increasing norepinephrine levels in the brain. This includes antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), nortriptyline, and Pamelor.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can help the patient how to deal with their symptoms, and also develop new coping techniques such as controlling impulsivity or stress. BetterHelp, an online therapy platform connects people with licensed therapists trained to treat ADHD and other mental health disorders. You can take a no-cost assessment and get matched with a therapist in just a few hours. Non-stimulant and stimulant medications can help people with ADHD improve their ability to focus and decrease impulsivity, however they don't address the underlying causes of the disorder. Cognitive mindfulness and behavioral therapy can be utilized in conjunction with talk therapy to teach people how to control their impulse-driven behavior. These techniques can be taught by an ADHD coach, or practiced by a trained therapist. They can be taught to parents and caregivers to assist the child or adult suffering from ADHD in these areas. In some instances, a combination of medications and talk therapy is the most effective approach.