5 Laws Everyone Working In Treatment For ADD Should Be Aware Of
Treatment For ADHD
The main treatments for add are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). Iam Psychiatry can include stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants like atomoxetine and viloxazine, guanfacine, and clonidine.
Patients with active issues with addiction shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those who are in stable remission may take them into consideration. Combination therapy with antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is a different option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between synapses in the brain. This improves concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. Both are similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the person's individual biochemistry and how well they respond to the medicine. It could take between five and seven days before the full effects of the medication become apparent. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep and less the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medicine is working.
These medications can have adverse effects, including diminished appetite and trouble sleeping, and they can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Certain people with a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, should not use these medications. Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only paediatricians or psychiatrists, or in some cases general practitioners, are able to prescribe stimulants. They are available in the form of pills or tablets, a patch that goes on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who are dependent on stimulants are often afflicted by weight loss and eating disorders. If the dosage is too high, they may also develop tics. In this situation the doctor will lower the dosage to prevent the drug from causing more symptoms.
Stimulant medicines are used for around 70 to 80% of children and adults with ADHD. The majority of children and adolescents report that their symptoms improve when treated. This is particularly the case for children who have parents, teachers or caregivers who report improvements.
Early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in life. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders during the adolescent years. However this protective effect fades in the early years of adulthood.