Treatment For ADD: What's New? No One Is Discussing
Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for add. These medications include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine and clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Stimulant medications are not recommended for patients with active substance abuse problems but they can be considered in those who are in stable remission. adult add treatments using antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may recommend methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are similar medicines. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the person's individual biochemistry and how well they react to the medicine. It can take five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep and less the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.
These medications can have side effects, including reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping, and they can raise heart rate and blood pressure. People with medical conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, should not use these medications. Stimulants are tightly controlled drugs with the potential for misuse. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or in certain cases general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form or pills, tablets patches, or patches that are applied to the skin or liquids.
Children and adolescents who use stimulants are often affected by weight loss and appetite problems. They may also experience symptoms of tics if the dosage is too high. In this situation the doctor will lower the dose to stop the drug from causing more 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 particularly true for those with teachers, parents, or carers who can observe improvements.
The early use of stimulants can reduce the risk of developing substance use disorders in later life. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83 discovered that the use of stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance addiction disorders during the adolescent years. However this protective effect fades in the early years of adulthood.