10 Best Facebook Pages Of All Time Concerning Medication For ADHD
Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people suffering from ADHD notice a decrease in symptoms when they take medication. Every person's reaction to medication is different, and the side effects are sometimes problematic.
Methylphenidate is part of a class of drugs known as stimulants. It works by raising levels of a chemical within the brain that aids in controlling the behavior and attention.
Stimulant drugs
Stimulant drugs enhance concentration and attention in 70 to the 80% of adults and children who take them. They work by altering the activity of neurotransmitters that are essential in the brain, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. They usually trigger an initial rise in blood pressure and heart rate that lasts several hours. Many experts suggest starting at a low dose and gradually increase the dosage over the course of several weeks.
Stimulant medication is typically taken orally, one or twice a day. Most are available in both short- and long-acting formulations. Short-acting stimulants are most effective within a couple of hours and must be taken 2-3 times a day. Long-acting stimulants last 8-12 hours and are taken twice a day.
These drugs can trigger unwanted side effects, such as insomnia, nausea and loss of appetite. Some people might become irritable or moody. However these effects tend to fade over time and can be controlled by changing the dosage. In some cases stimulants can change your personality. You might become more withdrawn, listless, or more rigid and obsessed. best adhd medication for adults uk may also raise the risk of developing other psychiatric problems, including mania and depression.
Most stimulants are controlled drugs and require prescription. They are frequently misused by adults and teens to achieve performance enhancement, and they can cause addiction if taken in a manner that is not approved. Due to these risks, doctors carefully evaluate the need for stimulant medications and be aware of the dosage and any adverse effects.
Non-stimulant medication
There are a number of non-stimulant ADHD medicines, and the best one depends on the person. These are prescription medications, but they do not act on the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants cause less negative effects, but take longer to work and last only 24 hours. Most of these drugs operate by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in the brain. This includes antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), nortriptyline, and Pamelor.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can help the patient how to deal with the symptoms and learn new coping strategies, like controlling impulsivity or stress. BetterHelp, a service that provides online therapy connects people with licensed therapists with expertise in treating ADHD and other mental illnesses. You can take a no-cost assessment and get connected with a therapist in less than 48 hours. Non-stimulant and stimulant medications can help people with ADHD improve their ability to focus and reduce impulsivity, but they don't address the root causes of the disorder. Cognitive mindfulness and behavioral therapy can be used in conjunction with therapy to help people learn how to control their unpredictable behavior. These techniques can be taught by an ADHD coach, or practiced with a trained therapist. Parents and caregivers can be taught these techniques to help their child or adult with ADHD. In most effective adhd medication for adults is suggested to combine medications and talk therapy might be the best approach.