ADHD Medication
Medication is often an integral part of an ADHD treatment strategy. The most frequently used stimulant medications are methylphenidate and dextro-amphetamine. Each of these has many brand names and has a different chemical makeup.
Stimulants increase the levels of brain chemicals that aid in transmit messages between neurons. They are typically the first drugs doctors test for adults suffering from ADHD.
Stimulants
Stimulants are the primary medication that doctors prescribe for ADHD. They function by increasing levels of a certain chemical in the brain, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These chemicals help improve concentration, decrease aggressive behavior, and increase peace. Amphetamines, including methylphenidate, or atomoxetine (which is part of the class of antidepressants known as selective norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors) are frequently prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD. Although serious heart complications are rare, doctors may closely monitor those suffering from heart problems when they are taking stimulants.
ADHD is typically treated most efficiently with stimulant medication, especially for children and adolescents. These drugs increase the brain chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine that help people concentrate, focus, and learn. These drugs also increase the ability to stay awake and alert. When taken as prescribed can boost school performance. However, many experts are concerned that students who take stimulants for long durations can develop a tolerance and begin to need more doses. types of adhd medication can also cause negative side effects, such as changes in appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, or depression.
Doctors who prescribe ADHD medication typically start with a small dose and gradually increase it over a period of a few weeks. You and your parents will be asked to track the effects on you and the benefits of the medication. If the medicine doesn't seem to be working or causes adverse side effects that you aren't able to deal with, your doctor might try another medicine.
Most kids and adults who use stimulant drugs experience at the very least some adverse effects. Most of them are minor and will go away within some weeks or days after the body has become familiar with the drug. Some of the more frequent side effects are the loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and a rapid heart rate.
Some studies have shown that people who take stimulant medication for ADHD are more likely to have tics that are repetitive sounds or movements like eye blinking or throat clearing. These drugs don't cause tics, but they do make them more apparent. ADHD medications can also cause changes in mood or voice as well as stomach upset, headaches and sometimes an increase or decrease in blood pressure or heartbeat.
A few nonstimulant medications--including Strattera (atomoxetine) and Qelbree (viloxazine)--have been approved by the FDA to treat ADHD. These medications work differently than stimulants. They increase the levels of norepinephrine which is the brain chemical that helps control attention and impulses. They can help reduce anxiety, depression and bipolar symptoms of bipolar disorder. They are less harmful than stimulants but do not work as well to treat ADHD symptoms. If you also have bipolar disorder or depression your doctor may recommend that you try these drugs. They may also recommend psychosocial treatments to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.