Best Medication For ADHD
Children and teenagers taking ADHD medication tend to focus better, be less impulsive, and feel more calm. They also do better with schoolwork. Some sufferers may experience a slowdown in their growth or a rise in heart rate or bloodpressure when they are taking these drugs.
The medications are available in a variety of forms, including capsules, tablets liquid, patches and tablets (such as Daytrana). Adderall (methylphenidate) is the most common stimulant. It's available in immediate-release dextroamphetamine, sustained-release amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts with extended-release.
Stimulants
One of the most effective treatments for ADHD is a class called stimulants. These medications improve focus and attention by affecting neurotransmitters, especially norepinephrine and dopamine. These chemicals regulate the prefrontal cortex, often called the "secretary of the brain" because it helps in the planning and organizing skills.
Stimulants are available in short-acting as well as long-acting dosages. The short-acting drugs have a peak effect in 30 to 45 minutes, and need to be taken twice or three times a day. Amphetamines like Adderall and Dexedrine and methylphenidates such as Ritalin, Concerta and Ritalin are among them. Amphetamines are stronger and last longer, but they both work similar ways to improve concentration and attention. Some stimulant medications are available in extended-release forms. They can be a better alternative since they last from up to 12 hours and are typically taken daily. Some of these medicines are a powder that you mix with liquid to create a drink, while others are pills.
Finding the right medication can take a bit of time. Your doctor will watch how you respond to the different kinds of drugs and alter the dosage as required. Drugs should only be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, which will include behavioral therapy and support services.
Non-stimulant ADHD medication takes a little more time to work but it can make you feel in control, increase your concentration and impulsivity and help you focus. These medications do not alter dopamine or norepinephrine in like stimulants do. They can therefore be employed for a longer duration. These medications also have less adverse negative effects like heartburn, constipation and a decreased sexual drive. Strattera is the first of these drugs that was approved by the FDA to treat ADHD. It's an inhibitor of the selective reuptake of norepinephrine. just click the following internet site might prescribe other medicines from this class which include the guanfacine (Intuniv) and Clonidine (Kapvay).
Non-stimulant antidepressants that are off-label are also available to treat ADHD. These are older medications within the tricyclic antidepressant family such as Tofranil (imipramine). Doctors will only recommend these medications in cases where stimulants or other non-stimulants don't work or cause too many adverse effects.
Your doctor can also prescribe atomoxetine (Prozac) or viloxazine (Risperdal). These medicines do not have a direct effect however they can reduce the tendency to be impulsive and improve concentration over time. They're in a different drug category than the other options and can trigger certain side effects like headaches or shaky hands. Your doctor may also suggest a low dose of an antidepressant called bupropion (Wellbutrin), which isn't an FDA-approved treatment for ADHD however it can help increase concentration and reduce the impulsivity. It can cause unpleasant, but generally not serious adverse effects, such as ringing in the ears or changes in vision.