ADD Medication, What you Need to Know
What ADD medication (s) are available for treatment, and what are their side effects?
ADD medication...for decades, stimulant ADHD medicines have been used to treat the symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD).
For many people, these medicines dramatically reduce their hyperactivity and improved their ability to focus, work, and learn.
The ADD medication (s) may also improve physical coordination, such as handwriting and ability in sports.
Recent research suggests that these medicines may also help attention deficit disorder...ADD ADHD sufferers with an accompanying conduct disorder to control their impulsive, destructive behaviors.
Unfortunately, when people see such immediate improvement, they often think the ADD medication is all that's needed. But these ADD medicine (s) don't cure the disorder, they only temporarily control the symptoms.
Although the drugs help people pay better attention and complete their work, they can't increase knowledge or improve academic skills. The drugs alone can't help people feel better about themselves or cope with problems.
These require other kinds of treatment and support.
For lasting improvement, numerous clinicians recommend that adhd medications should be used along with treatments that aid in these other areas. There are no quick cures.
Many experts believe that the most significant, long-lasting gains appear when ADD medication is combined with behavioral therapy, emotional counseling, and practical support.
Some studies suggest that the combination of add medicine and therapy may be more effective than drugs alone.
Stimulant ADD medication (s), such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Aderall when used with medical supervision, are usually considered quite safe. Although they can be addictive to teenagers and adults if misused, these medication are not addictive in children.
Only when the use of these medications is abused, can they become habit forming, or develop a “hook”. When used properly, no dependency is formed. Misuse can include over-use, as well as using the medications at times that would otherwise be unnecessary.
This does not occur in children, since the intake is monitored by adults and specialists. Furthermore, children are the most likely to receive regular examinations from doctors and psychiatrists to be certain that the add medication (s) are being used properly.
These medications seldom make children "high" or jittery. Nor do they sedate the child. Rather, the stimulants help children control their hyperactivity, inattention, and other behaviors.
Different doctors use ADD medication (s)in slightly different ways. Ritalin and Dexedrine come in short-term tablets that last about 3 hours, as well as longer-term preparations that last through the school/business day.
The short-term dose is often more practical for ADHD sufferers who need add medication only during the school/business day or for special situations, like attending church, attending a meeting, attending a formal occasion, or studying for an important exam.
The sustained-release dosage frees the add sufferers from the inconvenience or embarrassment of having to break every day for a pill.
The doctor can help decide which preparation to use, and whether ADD sufferers need to take the ADD medicine during school or business hours only or in the evenings and on weekends, too
Always consult a licensed physician before starting any medication or exercise regime.
Nine out of ten ADD sufferers improve on one of the ADHD medications. So if one doesn't help, the others should be tried. Usually a medication should be tried for a week to see if it helps.
If necessary, however, the doctor will also try adjusting the dosage before switching to a different ADD medicine. Other types of ADD medication may be used if stimulants don't work or if the adhd occurs with another disorder.
Antidepressants and other medications may be used to help control accompanying depression or anxiety. In some cases, antihistamines may be tried.
Clonidine, a drug normally used to treat hypertension, may be helpful in people with both ADD and Tourette's syndrome.
Although stimulants tend to be more effective, clonidine may be tried when stimulants don't work or can't be used. Clonidine can be administered either by pill or by skin patch and has different side effects than stimulants.
The doctor works closely with each patient to find the most appropriate medication.
Sometimes, an ADD sufferer's attention deficit disorder symptoms seem to worsen, leading parents and ADD ADHD sufferers to wonder why.
They can be assured that a drug that helps rarely stops working. However, they should work with the doctor to check that the add sufferer is getting the right dosage.
Parents should also make sure that the child is actually getting the prescribed daily dosage at home or at school--it's easy to forget, especially for someone with ADHD.
ADHD sufferers also need to know that new or exaggerated behaviors may also crop up when they are under stress. The challenges that all people face, like changing schools, changing jobs, moving or entering puberty, may be even more stressful for an ADD sufferer. Just like someone with a physical disability like paraglegic or another physical malady. In these cases, a piece of equipment likeWheelchair and electric wheelchairscan help it, but not so with ADD ADHD.
Some doctors recommend that ADD ADHD sufferers be taken off a medication now and then to see if they still needs it. They recommend temporarily stopping the drug during breaks, weekends, and vacations, when focused attention and calm behavior are usually not as crucial.
