ADHD Medication

If you have recently been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it’s important to know that there is an abundance of resources available to you.

There are several treatment options that will work to manage your symptoms and minimize your challenges, making it easier to function in a healthy and productive way.

ADHD brings difficulties in accomplishing necessary tasks and succeeding in day-to-day responsibilities such as school and your career. Luckily, there are many treatment options available to you, and in collaborating with a mental health specialist or other healthcare provider to find the right treatment plan for you, you can find a balanced, functional and healthy life.

Medications used to treat ADHD work by relieving the severity of symptoms and helping to improve the ability to focus, follow through with tasks or control impulses. Medications for ADHD do come with side effects and risks, and it’s important to know about those as well as the benefits, before making a choice for your care.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychological condition that creates challenges in a person’s ability to focus, accomplish tasks, manage time and control impulsivity. ADHD has several negative impacts on an individual’s ability to function in a learning setting, career and often in relationships. People typically begin to show symptoms and receive a diagnosis of ADHD in childhood, but the majority of those continue to face symptoms into adolescence and adulthood. It is also becoming increasingly common for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD later in life, although it is more difficult to diagnose than in childhood. 

There are many ways to go about receiving a diagnosis for your condition including psychological testing and evaluations, an evaluation by a pediatrician or healthcare provider or a diagnosis given by a mental health professional like a licensed therapist or psychiatric specialist. Those with ADHD have many complicated and difficult symptoms that they face with their condition.

Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD are:

While children with ADHD will also potentially display the symptoms listed above, there are certain signs and behaviors to be aware of that are more specific to children and adolescents.

The most common ADHD symptoms shown in children include: 

• Struggles to sit still

• Inability to focus for long periods of time

• Excessive fidgeting and movement

• Constantly running and climbing on surroundings

• Talking constantly and uncontrollably 

If your child is showing any or all of the symptoms listed above, it is in their best interest to have their mental health evaluated by a professional. For information on that, click here.

ADHD Treatment

Finding out you have a diagnosis of ADHD can be extremely difficult and overwhelming. If you’ve never faced it before, there is so much information to learn, so many resources to discover and so many methods of treatment out there for you. The most important thing you can do is to find the right support system to help guide you on your journey through managing your ADHD. Treating ADHD is never the same for every individual and is much more personalized and customized to each patient’s needs. So, if you are able to get yourself in the care of a mental health professional or other healthcare provider that has the proper education and experience, they can help you to strategize and develop a plan that best sets you up for success in YOUR individual path.

There are many treatment methods for ADHD. And the reality is, the majority of people being treated use multiple different types of treatment to pursue their health and stability.

For most, these treatment options are successful either individually or in combination:

• Behavior Therapy (mostly used for children/teens)

• Psychotherapy (CBT/DBT)

• Psychiatric Medication Treatment

While each form of treatment has great benefits and success, medication has been proven to have a hugely positive impact on those using it for the treatment of ADHD. However, if you are considering ADHD medication, you may have found that there are an almost overwhelming amount of options and a lot of information to be learned about all of them.

ADHD Medication

ADHD medication options can be broken down into three different “types”. These three types of medication are the most commonly used and widely popular to use in the treatment of ADHD.

1. Stimulants

Stimulant medications are used to help treat moderate to severe ADHD in both children and adults. They are the most commonly used and historically the most depended-upon medication used to treat ADHD. Stimulants work by boosting the dopamine levels in the brain, which is the chemical that controls motivation, pleasure and attention. They are proven to support individuals to be able to focus and concentrate better, while also reducing symptoms of hyperactivity.

It is important to be aware that long and short acting ADHD medications have a high risk for abuse. Short and long acting ADHD medication listed below are psychoactive chemicals and can be habit forming. If you have a history of substance addiction, we encourage you to discuss non-stimulant ADHD medications treatment options with your doctor. Our prescribers at INC have backgrounds in treating substance addiction – we encourage you to discuss any risks that you may have with these medications. Keep reading to learn more about non-stimulant medication. 

As with every pharmaceutical medication, especially mental health medications, ADHD drugs each come with an array of side effects ranging from mild to severe. In some cases, the side effects can be serious enough to deter them from using it as treatment – but in many cases, the benefit of the medications themselves far outweigh the burden of the side effects.

There are three different kinds of stimulant drugs, they are:

Short-acting 

Short-acting stimulants work fairly immediately and peak in your system within several hours. The person taking them has to take them multiple times per day, which can be an unappealing quality to those with ADHD, as they already struggle to complete tasks at a certain time each day. 

The most commonly used short-acting stimulant medications are: 

• Ritalin

• Adderall

• Zenzedi

• Focalin

• Dexedrine

Intermediate-acting

• Evekeo

• Ritalin SR

• Metadate ER

• Methylin ER

Long-acting

In cases where short-acting stimulants are not effective, cause unwanted side effects or are simply just not preferred, individuals turn to the treatment of long-acting stimulant medications.

The most popular stimulant drugs include: 

• Focalin XR

• Adderall XR

• Vyvanse

• Concerta

• Daytrana

• Metadate CD

• Quillivant XR

• Ritalin LA

• Azstarys

The possible side effects of stimulant drugs are:

• Restlessness

• Trouble sleeping

• Headaches

• Stomach issues

• Nausea

• Headaches

• Loss of appetite

• Irritability

• Depression

• Tics

When it comes to ADHD medication, it is common to experience some side effects. The reaction to each medication is different for every person in the number of side effects and the severity. When you begin medication treatment, you will work together with your doctor to monitor your reaction to the medication closely. Based on your body’s response and how the side effects level out over time, you will make the decision to either continue with the treatment or try a different medication.

2. Non-stimulants

Non-stimulant medications are usually the next option offered to patients who either didn’t tolerate stimulant drugs well or whom they weren’t effective in treating. Non-stimulant medication is also a great option for those with a history of substance addiction, since these medications have a lower risk of abuse. They tend to take longer to be fully effective, which is unappealing to the person facing ADHD; but once they do work, they are also known to be very effective and have less side effects than stimulant medications. Non-stimulant medications work by boosting the levels of norepinephrine in the brain, as opposed to the impact on dopamine levels that stimulants have.

The most common non-stimulant medications are: 

• Strattera

• Catapres

• Kapvay

• Intuniv

• Tenex

• Qelbree

The most common side effects of non-stimulant drugs include:

• Fatigue

• Upset stomach

• Nausea

• Dry mouth

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Mood swings

However, a common and very serious side effect of some non-stimulant medications is suicidal thoughts. This primarily affects teens and adults being treated and should be reported immediately if noticed. You should call a doctor immediately if you or your child being treated shows extreme change in mood, agitation, irritability, suicidal ideation or drastic and unusual changes in behavior.

3. Antidepressants

Antidepressant medications can be used to treat ADHD in many cases. Wellbutrin, the most commonly used antidepressant for ADHD. It targets and impacts the production of both norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and has been known to be fairly successful in managing many symptoms of ADHD. If you or your child are someone who suffers from ADHD as well as another condition such as anxiety or depression, antidepressant medication may be the best course of treatment for you.

Is ADHD medication treatment right for you? 

The most important thing you can do for yourself when facing the struggle of ADHD, is to become well-informed on all of your treatment options.

The process of finding the proper course of treatment for your individual circumstances can be overwhelming and intimidating but knowing more about each option and treatment can help to alleviate some of the uncertainty.

Medication treatment for ADHD is one of many treatment options. And while it is not right for everyone, it is a successful treatment for a big percentage of individuals. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD recently or are wanting to explore the possibility of having ADHD, the first thing you should do is seek the help of a certified specialist to help support and encourage you in pursuing the best course of treatment for you.

At Insight Northwest Counseling, we have an incredibly qualified and experienced team of providers who will be able to support you through your journey with ADHD treatment – however that may look.

We have the ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat ADHD and many other mental health conditions and are ready to support through finding health and wellness through multiple forms of treatment. If you’re ready to learn more or want to meet with one of our providers, contact us today.