A Provocative Rant About Treatment For ADD
Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications include stimulants like methylphenidate, amphetamine and atomoxetine. They can also be non-stimulants, such as clonidine and guanfacine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues should not take stimulant medications. However, those in stable remission can look into them. Combination therapy with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may recommend methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar to each other. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the individual's biochemistry and how well they react to the drug. It could take anywhere from five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become apparent. Increased concentration, improved memory, better sleep and reduced the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.
Some of the adverse effects include a decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not take them. These are highly controlled drugs that are prone to misuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in certain situations general practitioners can prescribe them. You can find them in the form of pills, tablets patches that can be applied to the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. They can also develop symptoms of tics if the dose is too high. If this happens, the doctor may reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from causing worsening of symptoms.
About 70-80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication. The majority of children and adolescents find that their symptoms improve when treated. This is especially relevant for children with parents, teachers or caregivers who observe improvements.
Iam Psychiatry of stimulants can lower the risk of developing addiction disorders later in the course of. Wilens Katusic, Wilens, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance addiction disorders during the adolescent period. However, this protective effect fades by early adulthood.