ADHD Treatments For Adults
Adults can benefit from many of the same therapies as children. These treatments include counseling, medication (psychotherapy) as well as life skills training. They may also involve some combination of these therapies.
Stimulant Medicines
These medications work by increasing the supply of certain brain chemicals that aid in controlling self-regulation and attention. They include the methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants from the amphetamine group including Lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants boost the body's metabolism and can cause increased alertness to the mind and 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 cause anxiety, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure. They may also cause anxiety and paranoia. Long-term use of stimulants can cause the dopamine receptors in the brain to malfunction and decrease feelings of pleasure. Stimulants can be taken in pills, liquids, or patches that can be applied to the skin. In the absence of legality, abused stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines.
The drugs in this class are also called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. They function by increasing the quantity of certain brain chemicals that boost concentration, reduce fatigue and increase alertness. Adults with ADD and ADHD are treated first by these medications. These medicines are available in an all-day formula or a longer-acting formulation that remains active throughout the day, like lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate.
The health care team may also recommend psychosocial interventions, like psychotherapy or education. It is important to monitor the effectiveness of medicines over time. This is a difficult task.
add adult treatment -stimulant Medications
Around 15%-30 percentage of children don't respond to stimulant medications This is also to be the case for adults as well. The non-stimulant medications take longer time to work and could take as long as several weeks before you begin to notice any effects. However, they don't have the same risk of adverse effects as stimulants and may be a better option if you can't tolerate them or are worried about addiction.