Prescription medications are a treatment of choice for many physicians who are experts in treating ADHD/ADD. Prescription medications are the most common treatment option for individuals with ADHD. The effectiveness of these medications is what makes them the treatment of choice for several parents that have an ADHD child and for several individuals that have ADHD/ADD. Unfortunately, ADHD/ADD medications cause long-term adverse effects, which make some ADHD individuals avoid using these medications and instead substitute them with natural remedies.
There are a number of alternative remedies available to reduce the symptoms ADHD, some of which have been proven safe and effective for some individuals. ADHD symptoms can be managed by eating healthy foods including foods that are beneficial for the brain and foods that have abundant vitamins and minerals. Also, committing yourself to daily exercise will reduce the level of stress you feel, thus reducing the occurrence of ADHD symptoms. In addition, exercise will also help in allowing more oxygenated blood to flow to your brain. Also, getting enough sleep each night will prove beneficial. Adequate sleep will help an ADHD individual stay focused the following day. No matter how beneficial it is to understand these natural remedies, it is still important to understand the contribution of medications to individuals with ADHD. Understanding the available medications will help you choose the best treatment option for you or your ADHD child.
Using ADHD medications to help alleviate symptoms has both its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of taking medications is the noticeable reduction in the occurrence of symptoms as well as helping the individual be more alert, more focused, more productive, and more organized. Unfortunately, medications for ADHD don’t act like magic. There are some symptoms that cannot be prevented such as being forgetful, getting distracted easily, and having a hard time maintaining good relationships with people. These symptoms can encourage ADHD individuals to make changes in their lifestyle in conjunction with taking medications.
The disadvantage of taking medications, whether the older ADHD medications or new ADHD medications, is that there is no long-term solution and unfortunately the drugs are metabolized by the body quickly. Once metabolized, the advantageous effects diminish and another dose is needed to combat the ADHD symptoms. In addition, medications can also cause adverse effects; when used for long periods of time, they may also provide undesirable effects. There is the possibility that an individual taking ADHD medications may develop a drug dependency, but there are no studies to prove this as of yet. There are some individuals who don’t experience the effectiveness of ADHD/ADD medications. The effectiveness of these medications is greatly achieved when the consumption is monitored accordingly. Also, because stimulants can be addictive medications, proper dosage is needed.
Concerta, Adderall, and Ritalin are stimulants frequently prescribed by physicians for treating ADHD. They help by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a brain chemical that is deficient in ADHD individuals.
If an ADHD individual does not respond to stimulant drugs, then there is a non-stimulant medication that is also effective as a treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder. While stimulants increase the level of dopamine, this drug increases the level of another important chemical in the brain called norepinephrine. This prescription non-stimulant drug is called Strattera, a long-acting drug that is only taken once a day. vyvanse 40 mg
