Treatment For ADD: What's New? No One Is Talking About
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Treatment For ADHD
The most common treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). Medications can include stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine, and non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Stimulant medication are not recommended for patients with active substance abuse issues, however they are a possibility for those who are in stable in remission. Combination therapy using antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, is an alternative option.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels between the brain's synapses. This improves concentration and decreases hyperactivity and impulsivity. The majority of doctors prescribe medications from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin) or amphetamines. These are both very similar medications. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on the person's individual biochemistry and how well they react to the medication. It could take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to become evident. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, better sleep and less the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medicine is working.
Some of the side effects include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Some people with a medical condition like high blood pressure or heart disease, should not use them. These are highly controlled drugs with a potential for misuse. Only psychiatrists, paediatricians or neurologists, and in some situations, general practitioners may prescribe them. They are available in the form of pills or tablets or patches that are placed on the skin, or liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often affected by weight loss and appetite problems. They may also experience disorders when the dosage is too high. In this instance, the doctor will reduce the dose to stop the drug from causing more symptoms.
Stimulant medicines are used for approximately 70-80% of children and adults with ADHD. A majority of children and young adults find that their symptoms improve with treatment. This is especially true for those who have parents, teachers, or caregivers who have reported here improvements.
Early use of stimulants may reduce the risk of developing addiction disorders later in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic as well as colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders during adolescence, however that this protective effect wanes as we enter early adulthood.