A Brief History Of Treatment For ADD History Of Treatment For ADD
Treatment For ADHD
Psychosocial therapy is the most common treatment for add. Medications can include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine and viloxazine.
Patients with active substance abuse issues are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those in stable remission can look into them. Combination therapy using antidepressants, especially SSRIs, is another option.
Stimulants
The effects of stimulants increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine that are released between brain synapses. This improves concentration and reduces impulses and hyperactivity. Most doctors prescribe medication from the stimulant class to treat ADHD. They may prescribe methylphenidate, (Concerta or Ritalin), or amphetamines. Both are similar medications. The dosage of the medicine is contingent on the biochemistry of each person and how they react to it. It could take anywhere from five to seven days before the full effects of the medication become visible. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep and reduced the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.
Some of the adverse effects include decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not use these medications. The stimulants have a high risk for abuse and are tightly controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in certain circumstances general practitioners can prescribe them. adult adhd treatments can find them in the form or pills, tablets patches that can be applied to the skin or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who are taking stimulants are often afflicted with appetite issues and weight loss. If the dosage is too high, they can also develop symptoms of tics. If this happens, the doctor may reduce the dosage to prevent the drug from causing worsening of symptoms.
The use of stimulant medications is for approximately 70-80% of children and adults with ADHD. Most children and young people experience improvement in their symptoms when they receive treatment. This is particularly true for those who have parents, teachers or carers who have reported improvements.
The early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later in life. Wilens, Katusic, and colleagues81,82, and Biederman, et al83 discovered that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders in adolescence. However this protective effect fades by early adulthood.