ADHD Treatments For Adults
Many of the same treatments that are effective for children with ADHD also treat adults. These treatments include counseling, medication (psychotherapy), and life skills training. These treatments may include a combination.
treating adult add work by increasing brain chemicals that regulate self-regulation and attention. These include methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants in the amphetamine class like the amphetamine lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants are drugs that speed up the body's systems and may increase mental alertness and more physical activity. These include legal substances such as caffeine (added in tea and coffee) nicotine, prescription medications used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD) as well as narcolepsy and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants can cause over-stimulation and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, paranoia and aggression. For some long-term, use of stimulants can damage the functioning of the brain's dopamine system, which can decrease pleasure-seeking feelings. Stimulants are available in pills, liquids, or patches. The most commonly used and illegally obtained stimulants include methamphetamines, cocaine and amphetamines.
These medications are also called central nervous system stimulants. They work by increasing certain brain chemicals that improve concentration, decrease fatigue and improve alertness. Adults suffering from ADD and ADHD are treated first with these drugs. These medications may be a quick-acting formula taken in the morning or a longer-acting drug that stays active in the body for most of the day. Examples include lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin).
treating adhd in adults may also recommend psychosocial interventions such as education, psychotherapy or coaching. Monitoring the effectiveness of medication over time is important, and can be a complex task.
Non-stimulant Medicines
Around 15%-30 percent of children do not respond to stimulant drugs This is also to be the case for adults as well. The non-stimulant drugs take longer to begin working, and can sometimes take a few weeks before you begin to notice the effects. However, they don't carry the same danger of having side effects as stimulants, and could be a better option in case you aren't able to take the effects of stimulants or are worried about addiction.
