ADHD Treatments For Adults
Many of the same methods that are effective for children with ADHD can also be used to treat adults. These treatments include medication, counseling (psychotherapy) as well as life skills training. These treatments could include a combination.
Stimulant Medicines
The drugs increase brain chemicals that control attention and self regulation. These include the chemical methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants in the amphetamine class like the amphetamine lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants are substances that speed up the body's systems and may increase mental alertness and increased physical activity. These include legal substances such as caffeine (added in tea and coffee) nicotine, prescription drugs used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD), narcolepsy, and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants may cause over-stimulation and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations, hypertension, aggression and paranoia. In some people long-term use of stimulants may damage the the dopamine system in the brain and dampen feelings of pleasure. Stimulants can be taken in pills, liquids, or patches that can be applied to the skin. Cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines are stimulants that can be gotten illegally and abused.
These drugs are also known as central nervous system stimulants. They function by increasing certain chemicals in the mind that boost concentration, decrease tiredness and increase alertness. Adults suffering from ADD and ADHD are treated first with these medications. They can be a formula that acts quickly taken in the morning or a more prolonged-acting medication that stays active in the body for most of the day such as lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta Ritalin, Concerta).
The health care team can also recommend psychosocial interventions, like psychotherapy or education. Monitoring adhd treatments adults of medications over time is important, and can be an extremely complex process.
Non-stimulant medications
Around 15%-30 percentage of children don't respond to stimulant medications and this is probably true for adults too. The non-stimulant medications take longer time to take effect and it may take a few weeks for you notice any effects. But, they don't come with the same risk of side effects as stimulants, and could be a better choice in case you aren't able to take the effects of stimulants or are worried about addiction.
