Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people with ADHD experience a reduction in symptoms when taking medication. However, each person reacts differently to different medications, and side effects can be troublesome.
Methylphenidate is a stimulant. It is a stimulant that increases levels of a chemical within the brain that aids in controlling the behavior and attention.
Stimulant medication
Stimulant medication can improve attention and concentration for 70 to 80% children and adults that use it. They affect neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. add adult medications cause an initial increase in heart rate and blood pressure that lasts for a few hours. Many experts recommend starting at a low dose and gradually increase the dosage over a period of time.
Stimant medication is administered by mouth, typically every day, either once or twice. There are short-acting as well as long-acting versions of most stimulants. Short-acting stimulants peak within a couple of hours and must be taken 2-3 times per day. Long-acting stimulants last 8-12 hours and are taken only once every day.
These medications can cause undesirable side effects, including nausea, insomnia and a decrease in appetite. Some people might become irritable or moody. However, these effects usually fade over time and can be controlled by altering the dosage. In some cases, stimulants can cause changes in personality, like being withdrawn, unfocused or more rigid and obsessive. They may also raise the risk of other psychiatric problems, including depression and mania.
Most stimulants are controlled substances and require prescriptions to be obtained. Adults and adolescents use these substances to boost performance. They may become addicted if they are not utilized in a proper manner or according to the prescription. Due to these risks, doctors carefully consider the need for stimulant medications and be aware of the dosage and any adverse effects.
Non-stimulant medication
There are a variety of non-stimulant ADHD medications and the most effective one is dependent on the individual. These prescription drugs don't affect the same brain chemicals that stimulants do. Non-stimulants have fewer adverse effects, but they can take longer to kick in and last only for 24 hours. They are mostly effective by increasing the levels of norepinephrine in the brain. They also contain antidepressants like bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor).
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can help a person how to cope with the symptoms and learn new strategies for coping, such as managing stress or controlling impulsivity. BetterHelp is an online therapy service connects people with licensed therapists who are trained to treat ADHD and other mental health disorders. You can take a no-cost assessment and be an appointment with a therapist within just a few hours. Non-stimulant or stimulant medications can help people with ADHD reduce impulsivity and improve their ability of focus however they don't tackle the root causes. In addition to talking therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and mindfulness-based therapies can teach someone strategies to manage their the impulsive behavior of their children and increase their ability to manage their emotions. These techniques can be taught by an ADHD coach, or practiced by a trained therapist. They can be taught to caregivers and parents so that they can support the child or adult suffering from ADHD in these areas. In some cases it is suggested to combine medication and therapy could be the best option.