ADHD Treatments For Adults
Many of the same treatments that are effective for children with ADHD also treat adults. These treatments include medication, counseling (psychotherapy) and life skills training. These treatments can consist of a combination.
Stimulant Medications
These medications work by increasing the amount of certain brain chemicals that help control attention and self-regulation. adult adhd treatments include the chemical methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants from the amphetamine group like the amphetamine lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants increase the body's energy and can result in increased mental alertness and physical activity. These include legal substances like caffeine (added to tea and coffee) and nicotine, as well as prescription medications used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy, and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants may cause over-stimulation and lead to anxiety and heart palpitations, as well as high blood pressure as well as paranoia and aggression. Long-term use of stimulants can cause the dopamine receptors in the brain to malfunction, reducing feelings of satisfaction. Stimulants are available in pills, liquids or patches. The most commonly used and illegally obtained stimulants include methamphetamines, cocaine and amphetamines.
These drugs are also known as central nervous system stimulants. They work by boosting certain chemicals in the mind that improve concentration, decrease fatigue and improve alertness. Adults with ADD and ADHD are treated first with these drugs. These medications can be a formula that acts quickly used in the morning or a more prolonged-acting medication that is active throughout the duration of the day such as lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta Ritalin, Concerta).
The health care team may also suggest psychosocial interventions such as education, psychotherapy or coaching. Monitoring the effectiveness of medications over time is important, and can be a complex task.
Non-stimulant medications
About 15% to 30 percentage of children don't respond to stimulant medication and this is probably to be the case for adults as well. adult treatment for adhd -stimulant drugs are slower to begin working, and can sometimes take a few weeks before you feel the effects. They don't have the same side effects and are a better choice if you cannot tolerate stimulants or are afraid of addiction.