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The main treatments for adding are medication and psychosocial therapy (psychotherapy). The medications include stimulants like methylphenidate, amphetamine, and atomoxetine. They can also be non-stimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine.

Patients with active substance abuse issues shouldn't take stimulant drugs. However, those in stable remission might take them into consideration. Combination treatment with antidepressants (particularly SSRIs) is also an option.

Stimulants

Stimulants boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine between brain synapses. This improves focus and reduces impulses and hyperactivity. The majority of doctors prescribe stimulant treating adhd without medication to treat untreated adhd in adults symptoms. They may prescribe methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or amphetamines, which are very similar medications. The type prescribed will depend on a person's individual biochemistry and how well they react to the medicine. It may take up to seven days for full effects of a medication to become apparent. Improved concentration, better memory, better sleep, and reduced the tendency to be impulsive are all indications that the medication is working.

Some of the side effects can include a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with medical conditions, like heart disease or high blood pressure, should not use these medications. These are highly controlled drugs with a potential for abuse. Only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists, and in certain circumstances general practitioners can prescribe them. They are available in the form or tablets, pills patches, or patches that are applied to the skin or in liquids.

Children and adolescents who are taking stimulants often experience appetite problems and weight loss. They can also develop symptoms of tics if the dosage is too high. If this happens, the doctor may reduce the dosage to prevent the drug from causing a worsening of symptoms.

Stimulant medicines are used for around 70 to 80 percent of adults and children with untreated adhd in adults symptoms. A majority of children and young adults notice that their symptoms improve through treatment. This is particularly relevant for children who have parents, teachers, or caregivers who report improvement.

Early use of stimulants may lower the risk of developing substance use disorders in later life. Wilens and colleagues79,80 Katusic and colleagues81,82 and Biederman et al83 found that treatment with stimulants reduces the risk of developing substance abuse disorders during adolescence, however that this protective effect wanes by early adulthood.