How To Outsmart Your Boss With Medication For ADHD
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Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people who suffer from ADHD experience a reduction in symptoms when they take medication. Every person's reaction to medication is different, and side effects can be problematic.
Methylphenidate is part of a group of medications called stimulants. It is a stimulant that increases levels of a brain chemical that regulates behavior and attention.
Stimulant medication
Stimulant medications enhance concentration and attention in 70 to 80percent of children and adults who use them. They work by altering neurotransmitters like norepinephrine or dopamine in the brain. They typically cause an initial increase in heart rate and blood pressure that lasts for a few hours. Because of this, experts recommend that patients start with a lower dose and increase it to the recommended dosage over the course of weeks.
Stimulant medications are taken orally, usually once or twice a day. There are both short-acting and long-acting versions of many stimulants. Short-acting stimulants begin to show their effects after a few hours and must be taken 2-3 times a day. Long-acting stimulants last between 8 and 12 hours and are taken once a day.
These medications can cause undesirable side effects, such as nausea, insomnia and a loss of appetite. Some people might become irritable or moody. However, these effects usually diminish over time and can be controlled by adjusting the dosage. In certain instances, stimulants can alter your personality. You might become more withdrawn, listless, or more rigid and obsessed. They can also increase the risk of other psychiatric problems, including mania and depression.
Most stimulants are controlled drugs and require a prescription. They are frequently used by adults and teens for the purpose of performance enhancement, and can lead to addiction if used improperly or not as prescribed. Because of these risks, doctors carefully evaluate the need for stimulant medications and monitor the dosage and side-effects.
Non-stimulant medication
There are a myriad of non-stimulant ADHD medications, and which one is best for you depends on your specific needs. These are prescription medicines however they do not have the same effect on brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants are less likely to have negative side effects however, they take longer to effect and last only for a period of 24 hours. Most of these drugs work by increasing norepinephrine levels in the brain. This includes antidepressants, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), nortriptyline, and Pamelor.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can help the patient how to deal with their symptoms, and also develop new coping techniques such as managing stress or controlling impulsivity. BetterHelp is a company that provides online therapy connects people with licensed therapists with more info expertise in treating ADHD and other mental disorders. You can take a no-cost assessment and get matched with a therapist in less than 48 hours. The use of stimulants and non-stimulants can help people with ADHD improve their ability to focus and decrease impulsivity, however they do not address the underlying causes of the disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness can be used in conjunction with therapy to help people learn how to control their impulse-driven behavior. These techniques can be taught by an ADHD coach or practiced by a trained therapist. They can also be taught to parents and caregivers so that they can support the adult or child with ADHD in these areas. In some instances it is recommended to combine medication and therapy is the most effective approach.