ADHD Treatments For Adults
Adults can benefit from many of the same therapies as children. These include medicine and counseling (psychotherapy) and life skills training. They can also involve a combination of these treatments.
Stimulant Medications
These drugs work by increasing brain chemicals that regulate self-regulation and attention. They include the methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants in the amphetamine class, such as the amphetamine lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants are drugs that speed up the body's systems and can increase mental alertness and more physical activity. They include legal substances like caffeine (added in coffee and tea) nicotine, as well as prescription medications used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD) as well as narcolepsy and hyperactivity. In treating adhd in adults of stimulants they can trigger overstimulation which can result in anxiety, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure. They can also trigger aggression and anxiety and. For treating adhd in adults , long-term use of stimulants may damage the the dopamine system in the brain and decrease pleasure-seeking feelings. Stimulants are available in pills, liquids or patches that are applied to the skin. Methamphetamines, cocaine, and amphetamines are stimulants that can be obtained from a criminal and then used.
These medications are also called central nervous system stimulants. They function by increasing certain brain chemicals that improve concentration, decrease tiredness and increase alertness. Adults with ADD and ADHD are treated first with these medications. These medicines can be a short-acting formula used in the morning or a more prolonged-acting medication that is active in the body for most of the day, such as Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin).
The health care provider may also suggest psychosocial interventions such as education, psychotherapy or coaching. It is important to monitor the effectiveness of medications over time. This can be an extremely difficult task.
Non-stimulant Medications
Around 15%-30% of children don't respond to stimulant drugs and it's possible that this is true for adults as well. Non-stimulant medicines take longer to start working, and it can take several weeks before you notice the effects. They do not have the same side effects and are a better option when you are not able to take stimulants or fear addiction.