Avoid Making This Fatal Mistake You're Using Your ADD Treatments For Adults
ADHD Treatments For Adults
Many of the same therapies that work for children with ADHD can also be used to treat adults. These treatments include medicine as well as counseling (psychotherapy) and life skills training. These treatments can consist of a combination.
Stimulant Medications
The drugs increase the brain chemicals that control attention and self regulation. These include methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants in the amphetamine class, such as the amphetamine lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medications
Stimulants are medications that stimulate the body's system and may result in greater levels of alertness in the mind and greater physical activity. These include legal substances such as caffeine (added in coffee and tea) nicotine, as well as prescription drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy, and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants can cause over-stimulation and lead to anxiety heart palpitations, high blood pressure, paranoia and aggression. Long-term use of stimulants can cause the dopamine system in the brain to malfunction and decrease feelings of pleasure. Stimulants are available in pill form, liquids or patches that can be applied to the skin. Illegally obtained and abused stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines.
These medications are also called central nervous system stimulants. They work by boosting certain chemicals in the brain that improve concentration, decrease tiredness and increase alertness. They are the first line of treatment for adults with ADD or ADHD. They are available as the form of a morning-only formulation or longer-acting formulations that remain active throughout the day, such as lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate.
The health care team may also suggest psychosocial interventions, such as psychotherapy or educational. adhd treatment in adults is important to monitor the effectiveness of medication over time. This can be a difficult task.
Non-stimulant Medications
About 15%-30% of kids do not respond to stimulants and it's possible that this is true for adults as well. The non-stimulant medications take longer time to work and may take a few weeks for you notice any effects. However, they don't have the same risk of adverse effects as stimulants, and could be a better option in case you aren't able to take these medications or are concerned about addiction.