15 Gifts For The Medication For ADHD Lover In Your Life
Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people who suffer from ADHD have a decrease in symptoms when they take medication. But each person reacts differently to different drugs, and adverse effects can be a problem.
Methylphenidate belongs to a class of drugs known as stimulants. It is a stimulant that increases levels of a substance in the brain that assists in controlling attention and behavior.
Stimulant medication
Stimulants improve attention and concentration in 70 to the 80% of children and adults who use them. They work by altering neurotransmitters like norepinephrine or dopamine in the brain. They usually cause an initial rise in blood pressure and heart rate that lasts for several hours. This is why many experts recommend that people start low and build up to the optimal dose over a period of weeks.
Stimulant medications are taken orally, usually once or twice a day. There are adhd adults medication -acting as well as long-acting versions of most stimulants. Short-acting stimulants peak within a couple of hours, and must be taken twice daily. Long-acting stimulating drugs last 8-12 hours, and are taken only every week.
These medications can trigger unwanted adverse effects, such as insomnia, loss of appetite and nausea. Some people can become angry or moody. However, these effects usually disappear over time and are able to be controlled by altering the dosage. In certain instances, stimulants can cause changes in personality, such as becoming more withdrawn, irritable or becoming more rigid and obsessive. They can also increase the risk of other mental health issues, such as mania and depression.
The majority of stimulants are controlled substances that require a prescription to be obtained. Adults and adolescents abuse stimulants to boost their performance. They can develop addiction when they aren't taken in the correct manner or as directed. Because of the risks, doctors are very cautious in assessing the need for stimulant medications and to monitor the dosage and adverse effects closely.
Non-stimulant drugs
There are a number of non-stimulant ADHD medicines, and the best one is dependent on the individual. These are prescription medications, but they do not act on the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants cause less adverse effects, but they can take longer to act and last only 24 hours. Most of them work by increasing the level of norepinephrine that is present in the brain. They also include antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor).
adhd for adults medication
Talk therapy can assist a person in learning how to cope with symptoms and develop new coping strategies, such as managing stress and impulsivity. BetterHelp, an online therapy service connects people with licensed therapists who are trained to treat ADHD and other mental health issues. Take a free assessment and you'll be matched with a therapist in just a few hours. Non-stimulant or stimulant medications can help people with ADHD reduce impulsivity and improve their ability to focus, but they do not tackle the root causes. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness can be combined with therapy to help people learn how to manage their unpredictable behavior. These techniques can be taught by an ADHD coach, or practiced with a certified therapist. Parents and caregivers can learn these techniques so they can help their child or adult with ADHD. In certain cases it is suggested to combine medication and therapy could be the best option.