Best Medication For ADHD
Teenagers and children who take ADHD medication tend to focus better, be less impulsive, and are more relaxed. They also do better with schoolwork. Some experience a minor slowdown in growth and may be experiencing an increase in heart rate or blood pressure when taking these drugs.
Medications are available in different forms including tablets, capsules liquid, patches and tablets (such as Daytrana). Adderall (methylphenidate) is the most common stimulant. It's available in immediate-release dextroamphetamine, sustained-release dextroamphetamine and extended-release amphetamine salts.
Stimulants
Stimulants are a type of drugs that can be effective in treating ADHD. These drugs improve focus and attention by affecting neurotransmitters, specifically norepinephrine and dopamine. These are the chemicals that regulate the brain's pre-frontal cortex region that is often referred to as the brain's "secretary" because it helps with planning and organizational abilities.
Stimulants come in short and long-acting doses. The short-acting medications are most effective between 30 and 45 minutes, and need to be taken twice or three times a day. Amphetamines such as Adderall and Dexedrine and methylphenidates such as Ritalin, Concerta and Ritalin are among these. Amphetamines may be a bit stronger and last longer than methylphenidates, however, they both function in the same way to improve concentration and attention. There are also extended- visit the up coming website of some stimulant medications. These are a better choice since they last from 8 to 12 hours, and are usually taken daily. Some of these are powders that you mix with liquid to make a drink, while others are pills.
It may take some time to determine the appropriate medication for you or your child. Your doctor will watch how you react to different types of medications and will alter the dosage as required. The use of medication should be a part of a complete treatment plan that includes behavioral therapy and support.
Non-stimulant ADHD medications take a little longer to start working however they can help you feel more in control and improve your impulsivity, concentration and focus. These medications do not affect norepinephrine or dopamine like stimulants do. They are therefore able to be utilized for a longer period of time. They can also have fewer negative effects, including heartburn, constipation and a decreased sexual drive. Strattera is the first of these medications that was approved by the FDA to treat ADHD. It's a selective reuptake norepinephrine inhibitor. Your doctor may prescribe other medicines from this class which include Guanfacine (Intuniv) and Clonidine (Kapvay).
Non-stimulant antidepressants that are off-label can also be prescribed to treat ADHD. These are older medications in the tricyclic antidepressant group, such as Tofranil (imipramine). Doctors only recommend these drugs when stimulants and other non-stimulants don't work or cause too many side effects.
Viloxazine or Atomoxetine may be prescribed by your doctor. These medicines do not have a direct effect however they can reduce the tendency to be impulsive and improve concentration over time. more.. belong to a different class of drugs than the others and can trigger negative side effects, such as shaky hands or headache. Your doctor might also recommend a low dose of an antidepressant, called bupropion (Wellbutrin), which is not a FDA-approved treatment for ADHD but can be effective to improve concentration and decrease the impulsivity. It can have some unpleasant but usually not severe, side effects, like ringing in the ears or changes in vision.