ADHD Treatments For Adults
Many of the same therapies that are effective for children with ADHD can also be used to treat adults. These treatments include medication, counseling (psychotherapy) as well as life skills training. These treatments can comprise a mix of.
Stimulant Medications
These drugs work by increasing the amount of certain brain chemicals that aid in controlling attention and self-regulation. These include methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants from the amphetamine group like the amphetamine lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants are drugs that stimulate the body's systems and may increase levels of alertness in the mind and greater physical activity. They include legal substances such as caffeine (added to tea and coffee) and nicotine, and prescription drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants may create over-stimulation, which can cause anxiety, heart palpitations, high blood pressure as well as paranoia and aggression. For some, long-term use of stimulants can damage the functioning of the brain's dopamine system and reduce pleasure feelings. The stimulants are available in pills, liquids or patches that can be applied to the skin. The most commonly used and illegally obtained stimulants include methamphetamines, cocaine and amphetamines.
The drugs in this class are also called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and work by increasing the quantity of certain brain chemicals which improve concentration, reduce fatigue and increase alertness. They are the first line treatment for adults suffering from ADD or ADHD. These medicines can be a formula that acts quickly taken in the morning or a more prolonged-acting medication that is active in the body for most of the day such as lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta Ritalin).
The health care team might also recommend psychosocial interventions such as education, psychotherapy or coaching. Monitoring the effectiveness of medication over time is important and is a complex task.
treatment for adhd in adults -stimulant Medications
Around 15% to 30% of children don't respond to stimulant drugs, and it's likely that this is the case for adults as well. Non-stimulant drugs take longer to kick in and could take as long as several weeks to notice any effects. However, they don't carry the same danger of having side effects as stimulants, and could be a better choice if you can't tolerate them or are worried about addiction.