Medication For ADHD The Process Isn't As Hard As You Think
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Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people suffering from ADHD have a decrease in symptoms when they use medication. However, each person reacts differently to different drugs, and adverse effects can be a problem.
Methylphenidate is a stimulant. It works by increasing levels of a chemical within the brain that helps control the attention span and behavior.
Stimulant medication
Stimulant drugs improve attention and concentration in 70% to the 80% of children and adults who take them. They alter neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Typically, they trigger an initial increase in heart rate and blood pressure that lasts for a few hours. Due to this, experts recommend that patients start with a lower dose and increase it to the optimal dose over a period of weeks.
Stimant medications are taken by mouth, typically once or twice a day. There are short-acting as well as long-acting versions of many stimulants. Short-acting stimulating drugs peak within a couple of hours, and should be taken twice a day. Long-acting stimulating drugs last 8-12 hours, and are taken only every week.
These medications can trigger unwanted side effects such as nausea, insomnia and nausea. Some people can become angry or moody. However these effects tend to diminish over time and can be controlled by adjusting the dosage. In certain instances, stimulants can alter your personality. You might become more withdrawn and sluggish, or focused and rigid. They can also increase the risk of other mental disorders, such as mania and depression.
Most stimulants are controlled drugs and require prescription. They are frequently used by adults and adolescents for the purpose of performance enhancement, and they can result in addiction if used in a way that is not prescribed. Because of these dangers, doctors must be attentive to determine the need for stimulant drugs and to monitor dosage and side effects carefully.
Non-stimulant medications
There are many non-stimulant ADHD medications, and the best one is determined by the individual. These are prescription drugs however they do not affect the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants are less likely to have negative side effects, but they can take longer to work and only last for 24 hours. Most of these drugs are able to increase the levels of norepinephrine in the brain. This includes antidepressants, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) nortriptyline and Pamelor.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can teach a person how to cope with the symptoms and learn new coping strategies, like managing stress or controlling impulsivity. BetterHelp, an online therapy platform, matches people with licensed therapists who are trained to treat ADHD and other mental health conditions. You can get matched to a therapist within 48 hours after taking a free online assessment. Non-stimulant or stimulant medications can help those with ADHD reduce impulsivity and improve their ability to focus however, they do not solve the root cause. Cognitive mindfulness and behavioral therapy can be combined with talk therapy to teach people how to manage their impulse-driven behavior. These techniques can be learned through an ADHD coach or by experimenting with a therapist who is trained. They can also be taught to parents and caregivers so that they can support the adult or child with ADHD in these areas. In certain situations the combination of medication and talk therapy check here may be the best option.