17 Reasons You Shouldn t Be Ignoring Medication For ADHD

Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?

Many people suffering from ADHD have their symptoms improved by taking medication for adhd and odd. Every person's reaction to medication is different, and the side effects can be problematic.

Methylphenidate belongs to a class of drugs referred to as stimulants. It is a stimulant that increases levels of a brain chemical that helps control behavior and attention.

Stimulant medications

Stimulant medication improves attention and concentration for 70 to 80% children and adults that use it. They affect neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Typically, they trigger an initial increase in blood pressure and heart rate that lasts for several hours. Due to this, experts advise that people begin with a low dose and gradually increase to the optimal dose over a period of weeks.

Stimulant medications are taken orally, usually once or twice a day. There are short-acting as well as long-acting versions of most stimulants. Short-acting stimulants are peaking within a couple of hours, and should be taken twice a day. Long-acting stimulating drugs last between 8 and 12 hours, and are only taken once per week.

These drugs can trigger unwanted side effects, such as nausea, insomnia and a loss of appetite. Some people might become irritable or moody. However these effects tend to fade over time and can be controlled by altering the dosage. In certain instances stimulants can trigger changes in personality, like becoming withdrawn, listless or more rigid and obsessive. They can also increase the risk of other mental health issues, such as mania and depression.

Most stimulants are controlled drugs and require prescription. Adolescents and adults misuse stimulants to boost their performance. They can become addicted when they aren't used properly or as prescribed. Because of these risks doctors carefully consider the need for stimulant medications and monitor the dosage and side-effects.

Non-stimulant drugs

There are a myriad of non-stimulant adhd non stimulant Medication Uk medications, and the one that is best for you depends on your individual needs. These are prescription drugs however they don't act on the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants are less likely cause negative side effects, but they can take longer to work and only last for 24 hours. They work by increasing the levels of norepinephrine within the brain, and include antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor).

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy can teach the patient how to deal with the symptoms and learn new coping strategies, like controlling impulsivity or stress. BetterHelp, an online therapy platform connects clients with licensed therapists trained to treat all adhd medications and other mental health issues. You can take a no-cost assessment and be connected with a therapist in just a few hours. The use of stimulants or non-stimulants can help people with adhd medication prescription uk reduce their impulsivity and increase their ability to concentrate however, they do not solve the root cause. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness can be combined with talk therapy to teach people how to control their impulsive behavior. These techniques can be learned by an generic adhd medications coach or by experimenting with a therapist who is trained. They can be taught to caregivers and parents to help the child or adult with ADHD in these areas. In some instances, a combination of medication and talk therapy is the most effective approach.