ADHD / ADD
Treatment
Stimulant medication
It is possible to cure ADHD / ADD?
Most effective class of drugs for ADHD are stimulants, which stimulating areas of brain responsible for attentions, impulse control and focus. Using stimulant to treat ADHD is somethimes referred as paradoxical effect, but there is no paradox. Stimulants activate brain inhibitory and self-organizing mechanisms, that help to have better self-regulation. This medications are so effective that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using of stimulants as one of top medications for treating this disorder.
Most frequently used medications for persons with ADHD are Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta), dextroamphetamines (Dexedrine) and Amphetamines (Adderall). Another stimulant Cylert is no more used, because in 1980 it was discovered that it could cause liver damage. The stimulants exist in long- and short-therm form. Here is a list of stimulants used to treat ADHD, their brand names, generic names:
For children 3 years and older:
| brand Name | generic Name |
| Adderall |
amphetamine |
| Dexedrine |
dextroamphetamine |
| Dextrostat | dextroamphetamine |
For children 6 years and older:
| brand name | generic name |
| Focalin | dexmethylphenidate |
| Metadate ER | methylphenidate |
| Metadate CD | methylphenidate |
| Ritalin | methylphenidate |
| Ritalin SR | methylphenidate |
| Ritalin LA | methylphenidate |
| Concerta | methylphenidate |
Some children get better results from one medication, some from another. It is very important to find the right medication and the right dosage.
For many children, the stimulants reduce their hyperactivity, impulsivity, improve their ability to focus, work,learn and improve physical coordination, in handwriting and in sports.
When stimulant drugs are used with medical supervision, are quite safe. Some parents worry that stimulants make their child "high",or can become addicted but there is no convincing evidence that stimulant medication cause drug dependance or abuse. Research of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School research studying ADHD sufferers who either receive treatment with stimulants or go untreated has indicated that those treated with stimulants are in fact much less likely to abuse any substance than ADHD sufferers who are not treated with stimulants.
After taking a medication for a week and child does not show sympton improvement, the doctor have to try change dosage. If there is still no change, child may be switched to another medication. About one out of ten children is not helped by a stimulant medication and it is possible to try another types of medications as antidepressants.
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