ADHD Treatments For Adults
Adults can benefit from the same treatments as children. These treatments include counseling, medication (psychotherapy), and life skills training. These treatments could consist of a combination.
Stimulant Medicines
These medications work by increasing the availability of certain brain chemicals that help control attention and self-regulation. They include methylphenidate, which is sold under the names Ritalin and Concerta, and stimulants in the amphetamine family like lisdexamphetamine. It is known by the brand name Adderall and Vyvanse.
Stimulant Medications
Stimulants are drugs that stimulate the body's systems and can increase mental alertness and more physical activity. These include legal substances such as caffeine (added in tea and coffee) nicotine, as well as prescription drugs used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy, and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants can create over-stimulation, which can cause anxiety and heart palpitations, as well as hypertension, aggression and paranoia. For some long-term, use of stimulants may damage the the brain's dopamine system and dampen feelings of pleasure. Stimulants are available in liquids, patches or pills. The most commonly used and illegally obtained stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines.
These drugs are also known as central nervous system stimulants. treat adult adhd work by boosting certain chemicals in the brain that boost concentration, decrease tiredness and increase alertness. Adults suffering from ADD and ADHD are treated first with these medications. The medications are available in the form of a morning-only formulation or a longer-acting formulation that remains active throughout the day, such as the methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine.
The health care provider may also recommend psychosocial interventions, such as education, psychotherapy or coaching. Monitoring the effectiveness of medications over time is crucial and is an extremely complex process.
Non-stimulant medications
About 15%-30% of kids do not respond to stimulants and it's possible that this is the case for adults as well. Non-stimulant medications take longer to kick in and may take several weeks before you notice any effects. However, they don't carry the same risk of side effects as stimulants and may be a better choice in case you aren't able to take the effects of stimulants or are worried about addiction.