ADHD Treatments For Adults
Many of the same methods that are effective for children with ADHD also treat adults. These include medicine as well as counseling (psychotherapy) and life skills training. treatment for adults with add can also involve a combination of these treatments.
Stimulant Medicines
The drugs increase brain chemicals that regulate self-regulation and attention. They include methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants in the amphetamine class including Lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants are substances that boost the body's systems and may increase mental alertness and increased physical activity. They include legal substances such as caffeine (added in coffee and tea) nicotine, as well as prescription drugs used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy, and hyperactivity. In large doses of stimulants, they can cause overstimulation which can cause anxiety, heart palpitations and high blood pressure. They may also cause aggression and paranoia. For some long-term use of stimulants can damage the functioning of the dopamine system in the brain and decrease pleasure-seeking feelings. The stimulants are available in pills, liquids or patches that can be applied to the skin. Cocaine, methamphetamines, and amphetamines are stimulants that can be obtained illegally and used to abuse.
They are also known as central nervous system stimulants. They work by boosting certain brain chemicals that improve concentration, decrease fatigue and improve alertness. Adults with ADD and ADHD are treated first by these drugs. They can be a formula that acts quickly used in the morning or a longer-acting drug that remains active in the body for most of the day such as Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta Ritalin).
The health care provider may also recommend psychosocial interventions, such as education, psychotherapy or coaching. It is important to monitor the effectiveness of medication over time. This can be a difficult task.
Non-stimulant Medicines that are not stimulants
About 15% to 30 percentage of children don't respond to stimulant medication and this is probably applicable to adults as well. The non-stimulant drugs take longer to begin working, and can sometimes take a few weeks before you feel the effects. They don't come with the same negative side effects and are a better choice when you are not able to take stimulants or fear addiction.
