15 Reasons To Love Best Medication For ADHD

15 Reasons To Love Best Medication For ADHD

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Best Medication For ADHD

Teenagers and children taking ADHD medication tend to focus more effectively, have less impulsive and more calm. They also get on with schoolwork. Some experience a minor slowing of growth and be experiencing an increase in heart rate or blood pressure when taking these medications.

There are a variety of medication such as tablets, liquids, patches, and capsules (such as Daytrana). Adderall (methylphenidate) is the most common stimulant. It's available in immediate-release dextroamphetamine, sustained-release amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts with extended-release.

Stimulants

One of the most effective medications for ADHD is a class called stimulants. These drugs help improve attention and focus by affecting certain neurotransmitters within the brain, including dopamine and norepinephrine. These are the chemicals that regulate the pre-frontal cortex which is often called the brain's "secretary" because it aids with organizing and planning abilities.

Stimulants come in short- and long-acting doses. The short-acting drugs are most effective between 30 and 45 minutes and should be taken three or twice times per day. Amphetamines like Adderall and Dexedrine and methylphenidates, such as Ritalin, Concerta and Ritalin, are among these. Amphetamines can be stronger and last longer than methylphenidates but both work in the same way to increase concentration and attention. Certain stimulant medicines are available in extended-release formulations. They are the best choice since they last from 8 to 12 hours and are generally taken only every day. Some of these medicines are powders that is mixed with liquid to create a drink, while others are pills.

Finding the right medicine can take a while. Your doctor will watch how you react to various types of medications and will adjust the dosage as needed. The use of medications should be a part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes support and behavioral therapy.

Non-stimulant ADHD medication takes a bit longer to begin working but they can help you feel more in control and boost your concentration, impulsivity and focus. These medications do not alter dopamine or norepinephrine in like stimulants do. They are therefore able to be employed for a longer duration. They can also have fewer negative effects, including constipation, heartburn and reduced sexual drive. Strattera is the first of these medications that was more info approved by FDA to treat ADHD. It's a selective reuptake norepinephrine inhibitor. Your doctor may prescribe guanfacine, referred to as Intuniv or clonidine. These are both medicines in this class.

There are also antidepressants that are not stimulant that can be prescribed off-label to treat ADHD. These older tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil(imipramine) are prescribed to treat ADHD. These drugs are only prescribed by doctors if stimulants or other non-stimulants do not work or if they cause too many side effects.

Your doctor can prescribe atomoxetine (Prozac) or viloxazine (Risperdal). These drugs don't have immediate effects however they can reduce the amount of impulsivity and improve concentration. They're in a distinct drug class than the other options, and they can cause some side effects such as headaches or shaky hands. Your doctor might also recommend a low dose of an antidepressant, called bupropion (Wellbutrin), which is not a FDA-approved treatment for ADHD but works well to improve concentration and decrease impulsivity. It can cause unpleasant, but generally not serious adverse effects, like ringing in the ears or changes in vision.