Treatment For ADD: What's The Only Thing Nobody Has Discussed
Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). Medications can include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and gu.
The use of stimulants should not be used in patients with active substance abuse problems but they can be considered in those who are in stable remission. Combination therapy using antidepressants especially SSRIs, is another option.
Stimulants boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain's synapses. This improves focus and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They might prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. Both are similar medications. The type prescribed will depend on a individual's biochemistry and how well they react to the drug. It may take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to become apparent. Increased concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and reduced impulsivity are all signs that the medication is working.
These medications can have adverse effects, including diminished appetite and trouble sleeping, and may raise blood pressure and heart rate. Some people who have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, shouldn't take them. The stimulants have a high risk for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only psychiatrists or pediatricians or, in some instances general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They can be found in the form of pills or tablets or patches that go on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who are dependent on stimulants are often affected by weight loss and eating disorders. They may also experience disorders when the dose is too high. In this case the doctor will lower the dosage to prevent the drug from worsening symptoms.
About 70% to 80% children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant drugs. A majority of children and young adults experience improvement in their symptoms when they receive treatment. This is especially the case for children with parents, teachers, or caregivers who have reported improvements.
Early use of stimulants could lower the risk of developing substance use disorders in later life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 have found that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance use disorders during adolescence, however the protective effect diminishes as we enter early adulthood.