Watch Out: How Medication For ADHD Is Taking Over And What To Do About It

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Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?

Many people who suffer from ADHD notice a decrease in symptoms when taking medication. However, each person reacts differently to different medications, and adverse reactions can be problematic.

Methylphenidate is part of a class of drugs known as stimulants. It increases the levels of a chemical in the brain that regulates behavior and attention.

Stimulant medication

Stimulant medications improve concentration and attention for 70% to 80% children and adults that use it. They alter the activity of neurotransmitters that are essential in the brain, including dopamine and norepinephrine. They typically cause an initial increase in blood pressure and heart rate that lasts for several hours. Due to this, experts advise that people begin with a low dose and gradually increase to the recommended dosage over the course of weeks.

Stimant medication is administered by mouth, typically every day, either once or twice. There are short-acting as well as long-acting versions of many stimulants. Short-acting stimulants are most effective after a few hours and are required to be taken three times per day. Long-acting stimulants last 8-12 hours and are taken twice per day.

These drugs can trigger unwanted side effects, such as insomnia, nausea, and loss of appetite. They can also make people feel irritable or moody however these effects typically diminish over time and are often managed by adjusting the check here dosage. In certain instances stimulants can trigger changes in personality, such as becoming more withdrawn, irritable or becoming more rigid and obsessive. They can also increase the risk of other mental disorders, such as depression and mania.

Most stimulants are controlled drugs and require prescription. They are often misused by adults and teens to achieve performance enhancement, and they could lead to addiction if used in a way that is not prescribed. Due to these risks, doctors must carefully assess the need for stimulant medication and keep track of the dosage and adverse effects.

Non-stimulant medication

There are a number of non-stimulant ADHD medications and the most effective one depends on the person. These medications do not affect the same brain chemicals as stimulants do. Non-stimulants have fewer negative effects, but take longer to kick in and last for only 24 hours. Most of them work by increasing the levels of norepinephrine within the brain. They also contain antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor).

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy can help the patient how to deal with the symptoms and learn new coping techniques such as controlling impulsivity or stress. BetterHelp is an online therapy service, matches people with licensed therapists trained to treat ADHD and other mental health issues. You can get matched to a therapist within 48 hours after taking a free online assessment. Stimulant or non-stimulant medications can help those with ADHD reduce their impulsivity and increase their ability of focus however, they do not tackle the root causes. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness can be used in conjunction with talk therapy to teach people how to control their impulse-driven behavior. These techniques can be taught by an ADHD coach or practiced with a trained therapist. They can also be taught to caregivers and parents to help the child or adult with ADHD in these areas. In some cases it is suggested to combine medication and therapy could be the best option.