https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/adhd-treatment-for-adults/ For ADHD
The main treatment options for add are medications and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). These medications include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as non-stimulants such as atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and gu.
Patients who have active issues with substance abuse are not advised to take stimulant medication. However, those who are in stable remission may take them into consideration. Combination therapy using antidepressants especially SSRIs, is a different option.
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Stimulants
Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels between the brain's synapses. This improves focus and reduces hyperactivity and impulses. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant medication to treat ADHD. They may recommend methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar to each other. The type of medicine prescribed will depend on a individual's biochemistry and how well they react to the medicine. It can take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to become evident. Improvements in concentration, improved memory, improved sleep, and reduced impulsivity are all signs that the medication is working.
Some of the side effects include decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. People suffering from medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure shouldn't take these medications. They are highly prone for abuse and are closely controlled drugs. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in certain circumstances general practitioners can prescribe them. They are available in the form of tablets or pills, a patch that goes on the skin, or in liquids.
Children and adolescents who take stimulants are often affected by weight loss and a lack of appetite. If the dosage is too high, they can also develop symptoms of tics. If this occurs, the doctor will reduce the dosage to avoid the drug from leading to a worsening of symptoms.
About 70% to 80 percent of children and adults suffering from ADHD are treated with stimulant medications. A majority of children and young adults notice that their symptoms improve when they receive treatment. This is especially true for those with teachers, parents, or carers who can observe improvements.
The early use of stimulants can lower the risk of developing substance use disorders later on in life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman and colleagues83 discovered that treatment with stimulants decreases the risk of developing substance abuse disorders in adolescence, but that this protective effect wanes by early adulthood.
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