Full Post For Adults
Adults are able to benefit from many of the same treatments that children receive. These treatments include counseling, medication (psychotherapy), and life skills training. These treatments may include a combination.
Stimulant Medications
These drugs work by increasing brain chemicals that control attention and self regulation. These include the chemical methylphenidate (marketed as Ritalin, Concerta) and stimulants from the amphetamine group including lisdexamphetamine (marketed as Adderall, Vyvanse).
Stimulant Medicines
Stimulants are medications that speed up the body's system and may cause higher levels of alertness in the mind and greater physical activity. They include legal substances like caffeine (added in tea and coffee), nicotine, and prescription medications used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) as well as narcolepsy and hyperactivity. In large doses, stimulants can result in over-stimulation and cause anxiety, heart palpitations, hypertension, paranoia and aggression. Long-term stimulant use can cause the dopamine receptors in the brain to malfunction, reducing feelings of happiness. Stimulants are available in pills, liquids or patches that can be applied to the skin. Methamphetamines, cocaine, and amphetamines are stimulants which can be gotten from a criminal and then used.
These medications are also called central nervous system stimulants. They work by boosting certain chemicals in the brain which improve concentration, reduce tiredness and increase alertness. Adults suffering from ADD and ADHD are treated first by these drugs. These medicines can be a short-acting formula that is taken in the morning, or a longer-acting drug that remains active in the body for most of the day such as lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or methylphenidate (Concerta Ritalin).
The health care team could also suggest psychosocial interventions, like psychotherapy or education. Monitoring the effectiveness of medication over time is vital and can be an extremely difficult task.
Non-stimulant Medications
Around 15% to 30% of children do not respond to stimulants and it's possible that this is the case for adults as well. The non-stimulant drugs take longer to start working, and may take a few weeks before you feel the effects. They don't have the same negative side effects and are a better choice if you cannot tolerate stimulants or fear addiction.