Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people with ADHD experience improvements in their symptoms through medication. Each person's reaction to drugs is different, and side effects can be a problem.
Methylphenidate is part of a group of medications called stimulants. It increases the levels of a brain chemical that helps regulate behavior and attention.
Stimulant medication
Stimulants enhance attention and concentration in 70 to 80percent of adults and children who take them. They affect neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. They typically cause an initial increase in blood pressure and heart rate that lasts for several hours. Because of this, experts advise that people start low and build up to the appropriate dose over a period of weeks.
Stimant medication is administered by mouth, typically once or twice a day. The majority are available in long- and short-acting formulas. Short-acting stimulants are peaking in a few hours, and they must be taken twice a day. Long-acting stimulating drugs last 8-12 hours, and are only taken once a week.
These medications can cause undesirable side effects, such as nausea, insomnia and a decrease in appetite. They may also make some people feel irritable or moody, but these effects generally fade with time and can often be controlled by adjusting the dosage. In some cases stimulants can cause changes in personality, like becoming withdrawn, listless or becoming more rigid and obsessive. They may also increase the risk of developing other mental disorders, like depression and mania.
The majority of stimulants are controlled substances and require prescriptions to be obtained. Adults and adolescents use them to enhance performance. They can become addicted when they are not taken in the correct manner or as directed. Due to these risks, doctors carefully consider the need for stimulant medications and monitor the dosage and side-effects.
Non-stimulant medicine
There are a variety of non-stimulant ADHD medications, and the one that is most suitable for you is determined by your personal needs. These are prescription drugs, but they do not affect the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants have fewer negative effects, but take longer to kick in and last for only 24 hours. add medication adults of these medications operate by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in the brain. This includes antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), nortriptyline, and Pamelor.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can assist a person in learning how to deal with symptoms and develop new coping skills like controlling impulsivity and stress. BetterHelp is a company that offers therapy online connects clients with licensed therapists with expertise in treating ADHD and other mental illnesses. Get a free assessment and get an appointment with a therapist within just a few hours. Stimulant or non-stimulant medications can help people with ADHD reduce their impulsivity and increase their ability to focus however they don't address the underlying causes. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness can be combined with therapy to help people learn how to control their impulsive behavior. These techniques can be learned through an ADHD coach or by experimenting with a trained therapist. Parents and caregivers can learn these techniques to help their child or adult with ADHD. In certain cases, a combination between medications and talk therapy might be the most effective approach.