ADHD Treatment Medication
Stimulants, the most frequently prescribed treatment for ADHD seem to regulate brain chemicals and increase their levels. They cannot solve the problem and can only manage symptoms if used regularly.
The adverse effects of ADHD medications may include changes in blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety, and tics. Some children and teens who take stimulant drugs have a slight decrease in their growth.
Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate is a stimulant for the central nervous system and is the most frequently used drug for treating ADHD. It comes in a variety of forms, including tablets that chew liquid, an orally disintegrating tablet that acts long, and a pill with extended release. The drug increases levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. This can help improve concentration. It can also help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. When combined with other treatments such as behavioral therapy, methylphenidate could be a very effective treatment for ADHD.
Methylphenidate blocks the transporters which eliminate these neurotransmitters naturally from the brain. The medication can cause a slight increase in heart rate and blood pressure. It may also trigger an abrupt change in blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes should be careful when taking this medication. If you experience any of these side effects, speak to your physician. Methylphenidate may also trigger a condition known as Raynaud's phenomena that causes numbness and discomfort in the toes and fingers. This is a rare side effect, however, it is crucial to inform your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
Some people are concerned that methylphenidate may slow the growth of children. However, this has not been proven. If you have a child being treated with methylphenidate ensure that you monitor the weight and height carefully. If your child is taking tablets containing methylphenidate that contains phenylalanine, it can be dangerous to children suffering from phenylketonuria. If you suffer from PKU, consult your doctor about the different methylphenidate formulations.
Stimulants are often considered to be the first choice medication for treating ADHD however, certain people are not able to use these medications. In these cases, doctors could prescribe another medication that performs in a similar way. There are other stimulants, like dexamfetamine or lisdexamfetamine in addition to the methylphenidate. These drugs can last for longer and are more potent than methylphenidate. They are typically taken two to three times a day, but some people can take them more often. Psychological treatments are also available to treat ADHD, but they are less likely to prove effective than stimulants.
Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine is also called Strattera and is a nonstimulant ADHD drug that boosts concentration while decreasing hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It is in a class of drugs known as selective norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors. It works by boosting levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, two chemical messengers that control the brain's activity. It is popular among people of all ages who need a different medication than stimulants such as Adderall or Vyvanse.
It is important to remember that atomoxetine doesn't work instantly, and it can take up to six weeks for the effects of the drug to be apparent. Additionally, you may suffer from side effects like diminished appetite, drowsiness and upset stomach. For the majority of patients, the benefits of taking atomoxetine outweigh any risks.
In a double-blind placebo controlled study of 297 ADHD patients aged between 12 and 18, the effectiveness of atomoxetine was confirmed. The participants were randomly assigned to receive atomoxetine, a daily dose of 0.6 mg per kilogram or 1.2 mg/kg, or a placebo for 9 weeks. Both the atomoxetine and the placebo group experienced reduction in depression symptoms. The atomoxetine treatment group had greater improvement in ADHD symptoms than the placebo group. The improvement was modest.
In a separate open study, 10 patients suffering from ADHD who were unable to respond to stimulants were treated with atomoxetine over 8 weeks. The group treated with atomoxetine showed improvement in ADHD symptoms when compared to the placebo group and scores on the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale Investigator Rated Screening version as well as the Clinical Global Impressions of Severity scale increasing significantly. However, one patient experienced an rash and resigned from the study. In addition, three patients reported transient gastrointestinal disturbances and one reported increased fatigue (Kratochvil and colleagues, 2005).
Before you begin treatment with atomoxetine to your doctor about your medical background and any other medications or supplements that you're taking. This includes herbal remedies as well as over the counter medicines. It is especially important to tell your doctor if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, a thyroid tumor or adrenal gland tumor and high blood pressure heart disease, or an unusually sudden death. You should stay clear of the use of atomoxetine if you've taken an MAO-inhibitor, such isocarboxazid or linezolid within the last 14 days, or rasagiline, Methylene Blue Injection, phenelzine or tranylcypromine.
Bupropion
Bupropion, a non-stimulant drug can help improve ADHD symptoms. It can also reduce impulsivity and increase focus, although it doesn't affect the brain in the same way as stimulants. Only prescriptions are approved. Your doctor will decide the most effective dosage for you. Bupropion comes in tablets and capsules. It is essential to take the medication as prescribed. If you stop taking it suddenly you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
The most common dosage is two or three doses daily separated by four to six hours. The dosage can vary from 100 mg twice or three times daily up to 150 mg three or four times daily. The drug is in the digestive system and excreted into urine. It is not able to enter breast milk. However, it could be absorbed into the bloodstream and affect other organs. Bupropion increases blood pressure. It is important to monitor it regularly.
In addition to helping improve the symptoms of ADHD Bupropion can also reduce depression. It can also treat bipolar disorder. It works by blocking dopamine receptors that are located in your brain. This stops the neurotransmitter, dopamine, from reaching your brain. This helps to stabilize your mood.
Bupropion may interact with other medications, so it's important to tell your doctor about any other medications you're taking. It is important to inform your doctor know if suffer from any allergies. It is also important to avoid caffeine or other stimulants that can make the side effects more severe.
In several studies in a variety of studies, bupropion was compared with placebos for adults suffering from ADHD. The results of these studies were mixed, and the majority of studies were not well-designed. Moreover, many of them excluded participants with psychiatric comorbidity. The research suggests that bupropion has an impact on ADHD. More research is needed to determine the positive effects for patients, including an improvement in the quality of living. Furthermore, a better understanding of the molecular subtypes of ADHD is required before effective treatment can be created. This requires a deeper understanding of the interplay between the molecular pathways. Moreover, here it's critical to know how various anti-ADHD medications work with psychotherapy.
Tricyclic antidepressants
If the stimulants prescribed to children suffering from ADHD aren't effective or cause adverse side effects, doctors may look to antidepressants for treatment. These drugs, like imipramine and Nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor) are able to increase the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, which aids in helping people concentrate. These are older drugs that may have a number of side effects, so they're usually tried only when other medications have failed.
The first choice of antidepressant for depression is usually a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram. Tricyclic antidepressants are still used in certain instances despite their long-standing history. They are also effective in treating neuropathic pain and have an additional pain-relieving effect which is distinct from their antidepressant properties. They increase the potency of noradrenephrine by reducing its reuptake and also act as antagonists of pain pathways in the spinal cord.
SSRIs are less harmful and have less side effects than tricyclic antidepressants. They are also safer during pregnancy and don't appear to be teratogenic to animals or humans. If they are abruptly stopped, they could cause severe withdrawal symptoms. To lessen the negative side effects, your doctor may suggest reducing the dose gradually over a period of several weeks.
Bupropion, an antidepressant commonly that is prescribed off-label for treating ADHD, is not FDA approved as a drug for adhd. It is believed to work by increasing the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine and acetylcholine that are found in the brain to increase concentration. It is also believed to ease anxiety, and it can be used in conjunction with stimulants for more rapid and long-lasting results.
While there aren't any FDA-approved nonstimulant medications for ADHD, many people do feel relief through the use of supplements to their diets and herbs. A diet that is low in sugar and fat may also help to reduce ADHD symptoms. Some people may also benefit by abstaining from caffeine. Tell your doctor all medicines you or your child is taking such as herbal remedies and prescription medications. This will minimize unwanted side effects and prevent interactions. ADHD medications can affect every person differently, which is why it's often a process of trial and error to discover the right dosage and drug for your child or you.