ADHD Treatments For Adults
Adults can benefit from many of the same treatments as children. These treatments include counseling, medication (psychotherapy) as well as life skills training. These treatments may include a combination.
Stimulant Medicines
These drugs work by increasing the supply of certain brain chemicals that aid in controlling self-regulation and attention. They include methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants belonging to the amphetamine group like lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medications
Stimulants are medications that speed up the body's systems and can cause higher mental alertness and increased physical activity. They include legal substances such as caffeine (added to tea and coffee) and nicotine, as well as prescription medicines that treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy and hyperactivity. In large doses of stimulants, they can cause overstimulation, which can result in anxiety, heart palpitations and high blood pressure. They may also cause anxiety and paranoia. In some people long-term, use of stimulants can damage the functioning of the dopamine system in the brain and dampen feelings of pleasure. The stimulants are available as pills, liquids, or patches. In the absence of legality, abused stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines.
These medications are also called central nervous system stimulants. They work by boosting certain chemicals in the brain that improve concentration, decrease fatigue and improve alertness. They are the first line of treatment for adults suffering from ADD or ADHD. new adhd treatments can be a formula that acts quickly used in the morning or a more prolonged-acting medication that is active in the body for most of the day. Examples include lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta Ritalin, Concerta).
The health care team may also recommend psychosocial interventions such as psychotherapy or educational. Monitoring the effectiveness of medications over time is vital and can be a complex task.
Non-stimulant Medications
Around 15%-30% of children do not respond to stimulants, and it's likely that this is true for adults as well. Non-stimulant medications take longer to work and may take a few weeks for you notice any effects. They don't have the same adverse effects, and are a better choice if you cannot tolerate stimulants or are afraid of addiction.