17 Reasons You Shouldn't Avoid Treatment For ADD
Treatment For ADHD
The main treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). These medications include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.
Patients with active issues with addiction shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those in stable remission can consider them. Combination therapy with antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is another option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This improves concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulses. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the biochemistry of each person and how they respond to it. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become apparent. The medication will be effective when you notice improvements in memory, concentration sleep, and impulsivity.
The medicines in this class may cause side effects, such as reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and may raise blood pressure and heart rate. People suffering from medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure shouldn't take these medications. Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in certain situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. They can be found in the form of pills or tablets or patches that are placed on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who use stimulants often suffer from weight loss and a lack of appetite. If the dosage is excessive, they could also develop symptoms of tics. In treatment for add in adults will lower the dose to stop the drug from worsening symptoms.
About 70-80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant drugs. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms improve when treated. This is especially relevant for children who have parents, teachers or other caregivers who have reported improvements.
Early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of substance use disorders later on in the course of. Wilens and colleagues79,80, Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 have found that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in adolescents, but that this protective effect wanes in the early years of adulthood.