15 Gifts For The Medication For ADHD Lover In Your Life
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Medication For ADHD - What Are the Side Effects?
Many people who suffer from ADHD experience a reduction in symptoms when taking medication. Every person's reaction to medication is different, and side effects are sometimes problematic.
Methylphenidate belongs to a class of drugs referred to as stimulants. It works by increasing levels of a brain chemical that helps regulate behavior and attention.
Stimulant medication
Stimulant medication improves concentration and attention for 70 to 80% children and adults that take it. They work by altering the neurotransmitters involved in the brain, like dopamine and norepinephrine. Typically, they trigger an initial increase in blood pressure and heart rate that lasts for a few hours. Many experts suggest starting at a low dose and gradually increase your dose over the course of several weeks.
Stimant medication is administered by mouth, typically every day, either once or twice. They are generally available in long- and short-acting formulas. Short-acting stimulating drugs peak within a couple of hours, and they must be taken two times a day. Long-acting stimulating drugs last 8-12 hours, and are only taken once per week.
These drugs can cause unwanted adverse effects, such as anxiety, insomnia and nausea. They may also make some people moody or angry, but these effects generally diminish over time and can often be managed by adjusting the dosage. In some cases, stimulants can cause changes in personality, for example becoming more withdrawn, irritable or more rigid and obsessive. They can also increase the risk of developing other psychiatric issues, like depression and mania.
The majority of stimulants are controlled substances and require prescription. Adolescents and adults misuse stimulants to boost their performance. They may become addicted when they aren't utilized in a proper manner or according to the prescription. Because of these risks doctors carefully consider the need for stimulant medication and monitor the dosage and side-effects.
Non-stimulant medication
There are a variety of non-stimulant ADHD medications available, and the one that's best for you depends on your personal requirements. These are prescription drugs, but they do not act on the same brain chemicals as stimulants. Non-stimulants have fewer negative effects, but take longer to work and last only 24 hours. Most of them work by increasing the levels of norepinephrine within the brain. They also contain antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl and Pamelor).
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can teach the patient how to deal with the symptoms and learn new strategies for coping, such as stress management or impulsivity control. BetterHelp, a service click here that offers online therapy, matches people to licensed therapists who specialize in treating ADHD and other mental illnesses. You can be matched with a therapist within 48 hours after completing a no-cost online assessment. Stimulant and non-stimulant medication can help those with ADHD improve their ability to focus and decrease impulsivity, however they do not address the underlying causes of the disorder. In addition to talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based treatments can teach people methods to manage the impulsive behavior of their children and increase their ability to manage their emotions. These techniques can be learned through an ADHD coach or through practice with a qualified therapist. Parents and caregivers can learn these methods to help their child or adult who suffers from ADHD. In some cases, a combination of medication and therapy is the most effective approach.