What Medications Are Available For Treating ADHD

ADHD medications play an important role in controlling the symptoms of ADHD. Currently, in U.K., only three types of medicines are available for treating ADHD. These medicines are categorized based on the active ingredient present in it. Listed below are these three types of medicines.

• Methylphenidate as Active
  Includes the following stimulant branded medicines:
  • Concerta XL
  • Equasym
  • Equasym XL
  • Medikinet
  • Medikinet XL
  • Ritalin
• Dexamfetamine as Active
  Includes only stimulant medicines and currently, there is only one medicine in this category called Dexedrine.
• Atomoxetine as Active (since May 2004)
  Includes only non-stimulant medicines and currently, there is only one medicine in this category called Strattera.

Methylphenidate and dexamfetamine, as ‘stimulant medicines’, are useful in treating ADHD in children. This has an evident history of approximately 30 years.

Atomoxetine, being a non-stimulant medication, is useful in treating ADHD in children who are six or above and adolescents. Sometimes, it is permitted to be used even when adolescents have entered into their adulthood.

What These Medicines Do?

Even today, the experts have not fully comprehended about how the medicines function to improve the problematic behavior. Further, this also is true that these medicines are not suitable for everyone and that they do not cure ADHD.

However, to gain a general idea on how these medicines works, they function by acting on a few natural chemicals present in the critical part of the body, i.e. the brain. They actually affect two chemicals namely, noradrenaline and dopamine that are present in the different parts of the brain. These chemicals have a say in controlling behavior and concentration.

Therefore, these medicines do control the symptoms of inattentiveness and impulsivity. This means that one can expect better concentration and calm and less hyperactive behavior, which directly indicates:

• Better listening power
• Good understanding power
• Improved attention span
• Improved learning ability
• Clear thinking before acting
• Still sitting
• No fidgeting
• No boredom and disruptiveness
• Interest in studying and making friends
• Boosted self-confidence
• Improved behavior overall

To obtain the results, children do need encouragement along with the medications.

When and How Long Do I Take Medicines?

The psychiatrist or a pediatrician specializing in ADHD would prescribe the medicines once

• Diagnosis having ADHD is done.
• Discussion with the parents and child is done.
• Child’s age is suitable for the medicine.

Initially, the child psychiatrists and specialists prescribe. Later on, your GP might prescribe and monitor the child.

The duration for which the prescribed medicines need to be taken is completely based on the individual. The duration is based on the improvement as listed below.

• No Improvement
  If there is no improvement shown even after raising the dose to the highest level, discuss with your doctor regarding the continuation of the medicine. It is recommended to stop the intake of such a medicine.
• Improvement
  If there is some kind of improvement, the doctor is more likely to ask to continue for a year at its minimum. After a year, the doctor might ask to stop the medicines to see the improvement in the child without the medicines. Such a start and stop can be done every year, but doctor’s supervision is mandatory.

To be concluded, some children might take medicines for a few years, some stop the intake until puberty, while others take even in adolescence.

What are the Side Effects?

Every medicine has its own side effects and even ADHD medicines are not an exception to this fact. To add to this, one more fact is that not all patients will experience the side effects of a prescribed medicine. So, one cannot say whether a person will suffer from any side effect of a medicine.

On way to tackle side effects, if they become a problem is to decrease the medicine dose. It might also happen that side effects decrease after continuing the treatment for many weeks. Listed below are the side effects associated with the ADHD medicines.

• Stimulant Medicines (Methylphenidate and Dexafetamine)
  Decrease in the appetite and difficulty in sleeping
• Non-stimulant Medicine
  Decrease in the appetite and stomachache

Because of the above side effects, the doctor will monitor the following aspects regularly:

• Weight and height that might be affected due to change in the appetite
• Heart rate and blood pressure

Methylphenidate

There are six brands and one unbranded form of methylphenidate available. The unbranded form is just known as methylphenidate.

Equasym, Medikinet, Ritalin, and Unbranded Methylphenidate

• Working
  These medicines immediately release methylphenidate within about 30 to 60 minutes after taking a dose.
• Effects Time
  Effects are felt after three to four hours of intake.
• Intake Time
  These medicines can be taken twice or thrice daily such as, in early morning (rare cases), at breakfast, and at lunchtime. However, note that the last dose should be taken before four hours of bedtime due to the side effect of sleeping difficulty.
• Dose
  The doctor might suggest taking either half or quarter part of the tablet. For each child, the dose might vary and should be revised by the doctor from time to time.
• Strength
  Except for Ritalin, all the other medicines are available in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg. Ritalin is available in 10 mg.

Concerta XL

• Working
  It is an extended form whose outer layer dissolves instantly. The remaining part of the tablet is released slowly throughout the day. The tablet does not get fully dissolved in the digestive system, so its shell can be noticed in the stools; for which there is nothing to worry.
• Effects Time
  Effects last for 12 hours. This is equivalent to the three doses of Equasym, Medikinet, Ritalin, and unbranded Methylphenidate.
• Intake Time
  This medicine can be given once in the morning without any need for further dose.
• Intake Method
  It is mandatory to swallow Concerta XL with water or any liquid, as it cannot be broken or chewed.
• Strength
  It is available in 18 mg, 27 mg, and 36 mg.

Equasym XL

• Working
  It is an extended form that discharges 30 percent of methylphenidate instantly, while the remaining 70 percent is discharged slowly throughout the afternoon.
• Effects Time
  Effects might last until the early evening in certain children. Because the way it functions, the capsule once given in the morning, need not be given in the school. This is equivalent to the morning and lunchtime doses of Ritalin, Equasym, or unbranded methylphenidate.
• Intake Time
  It usually can be taken in the morning once. However, if there is some problem in the evening after the effect of the morning dose is over, the doctor might suggest a small dose of instant release methylphenidate.
• Intake Method
  This medicine can be swallowed with water or some liquid. Not only this, you can open the medicine and sprinkle its contents on food that needs to be taken immediately. However, one must not chew or crush it.
• Strength
  It is available in 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg.

Medikinet XL

• Working
  It is an extended form that discharges 50 percent of methylphenidate instantly, while the remaining 50 percent is discharged slowly throughout the afternoon.
• Effects Time
  Effects might last until the early evening in certain children. Because the way it functions, the capsule once given in the morning, need not be given in the school. This is equivalent to the morning and lunchtime doses of Ritalin, Medikinet, Equasym, or unbranded methylphenidate.
• Intake Time
  It usually can be taken in the morning once. However, if there is some problem in the evening after the effect of the morning dose is over, the doctor might suggest a small dose of instant release methylphenidate.
• Intake Method
  This medicine can be swallowed with water or some liquid. Not only this, you can open the medicine and sprinkle its contents on food that needs to be taken immediately. However, one must not chew or crush it.
• Strength
  It is available in 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg.

Dexamfetamine

• Working
  It starts to function within about 30 to 60 minutes after taking a dose.
• Effects Time
  Effects lasts until three to four hours of intake.
• Intake Time
  These medicines can be taken twice or thrice daily such as, in the morning, at lunchtime, and in early evening (around 4 p.m.).
• Dose
  The doctor might suggest cutting the tablet. For each child, the dose might vary and should be revised by the doctor from time to time.
• Strength
  It is available in 5 mg.

Atomoxetine

• Effects Time
  This medicine is fully effective only after four weeks. However, the child starts getting relief in the first week itself after the treatment is started.
• Intake Time
  It can be taken in the morning daily.
• Dose
  The doctor suggests a low dose for a week, which is then increased up to the desired level. However, due to side effects, the doctor can ask you to divide the current dose, one in the morning and the other late in the afternoon.
• Intake Method
  It is mandatory to swallow Strattera with water or any liquid, as it cannot be broken, opened, or chewed.
• Strength
  It is available in 10 mg, 18 mg, 25 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg.

Popularity: 4% [?]