Be On The Lookout For: How ADD Treatments For Adults Is Taking Over And What Can We Do About It
Be On The Lookout For: How ADD Treatments For Adults Is Taking Over And What Can We Do About It
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ADHD Treatments For Adults
Adults can benefit from the same treatments as children. These treatments include medicine, counseling (psychotherapy) and life skills training. They may also involve some combination of these therapies.
Stimulant Medicines
The drugs increase the availability of certain brain chemicals that aid in controlling self-regulation and attention. They include methylphenidate, which is sold as Ritalin and Concerta, and stimulants in the amphetamine family, such as lisdexamphetamine. This is known by the brand name Adderall and Vyvanse.
Stimulant Medications
Stimulants are medications that speed up the body's system and may result in greater mental alertness and more physical activity. They include legal substances like caffeine (added in tea and coffee) nicotine, as well as prescription medications used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and narcolepsy and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants may cause over-stimulation and lead to anxiety and heart palpitations, as well as hypertension, paranoia and aggression. In some people long-term, use of stimulants may damage the functioning of the brain's dopamine system and reduce pleasure feelings. Stimulants are available in pills, liquids, or patches. Illegally obtained and abused stimulants include methamphetamines, copyright and amphetamines.
They are also known as central nervous system stimulants. They work by increasing certain chemicals in the brain that improve concentration, decrease tiredness natural treatment for adhd and increase alertness. Adults with ADD and ADHD are treated first with these drugs. These medicines can be a short-acting formula used in the morning or a longer-acting medicine that is active in the body for most of the day such as the lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin).
The health care team may also recommend psychosocial interventions like psychotherapy or education. It is important to monitor the effectiveness of medicines over time. This is a difficult task.
Non-stimulant medications
About 15%-30% of kids don't respond to stimulant medications and it's likely that this is true for adults too. Non-stimulant medicines take longer to begin working, and it can take a few weeks before you begin to notice the effects. But, they don't come with the same risk of adverse effects as stimulants and can be a better option for those who are unable to tolerate these medications or are concerned about addiction.