Let's learn about stimulant medications given to you with ADHD.

Do you also have difficulty completing a task? Do you feel restless, restless, and have a tendency to make rash decisions? Or do you think your child is hyperactive and impulsive? These could be symptoms of a condition called ADHD ( Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ). So, one of the main and most commonly used treatments for this is stimulant medications. These medications can help you control your symptoms. Let's talk about everything in simple terms today.

What are these stimulant drugs?

Simply put, this medication helps control the main symptoms of ADHD. That is:

• Difficulty maintaining attention (short attention span)
• Impulsive behavior
• Hyperactivity

Sometimes this medication is given alone as treatment. Other times, your doctor may advise using this medication along with behavioral therapy.

About 70% of adults and 70% to 80% of children who take these medications have good control of their symptoms. They significantly reduce hyperactivity , disruptiveness, and restlessness. They also help you finish tasks and maintain relationships with others.

How does this medicine work inside the body?

Think of it this way: our brains have chemicals called 'postmen' that carry messages between nerve cells. People with ADHD have slightly lower levels of two of these 'postmen', dopamine and norepinephrine.

What these stimulants do is increase the levels of those chemicals . These chemicals are normally produced naturally when we do something that makes us happy. What these drugs do is, just like that natural process, slowly and steadily release these chemicals into the brain. This increases your energy, helps you focus, and keeps you alert.

The main types of stimulant medications used for ADHD

Stimulant medications for ADHD can be divided into three main types: short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting.

• Short-acting medications: These are taken two or three times a day. The advantage is that you can control how long the medication lasts in your body. The disadvantage is that you have to remember to take the medication frequently.
• Long-acting medications: These are usually taken once a day, often in the morning. The advantage is that you don't have to remember to take your medication as often. This can also reduce some of the side effects. The disadvantage is that until you get the dose and timing of the medication right, you may have trouble falling asleep at night.

These medications can come as pills, patches, liquids, or chewable tablets. Your doctor will decide which type and dosage is best for you or your child.

Who should not use this medicine?

If you have any of the following health conditions, you should not use these stimulants. You should definitely talk to your doctor about this.

• If you have heart disease or any weakness in your heart
• If you have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyes)
• If you have severe anxiety, restlessness, or agitation
• If you have a condition called tics (uncontrolled movements of body parts)
• If you have Tourette's syndrome, or if someone in your family has it
• If there is a history of psychosis
• If you have used a medicine called a 'Monoamine oxidase inhibitor' (MAOI) within the past two weeks.

What are the possible side effects of medication?

As with any medication, this one can cause some side effects. But don't worry, most of the time these are temporary. They will go away in a few weeks as your body gets used to the medication.

If children are given this medicine, some children may grow a little slower than children who do not take this medicine. But this does not affect their final height. Your doctor will monitor your child's height and weight regularly.

Can you become addicted to these medications?

This is a problem for many people. In fact, when given to children and young people at the recommended dosage for ADHD, these medications do not cause addiction. There is no evidence that taking these medications causes later drug addiction. In fact, studies have shown that people who take ADHD medications have lower rates of drug use than those with ADHD who do not take medication.

However, there is a potential for addiction if any stimulant is misused . This is especially important if you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Some important tips for parents

If you are considering starting your child on stimulant medication for ADHD, keep these things in mind.

• Always take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, in the correct dosage, and at the correct time. If you have any questions, talk to your doctor.
• When first starting a medication , start on a weekend day. That way, you can better observe how the medication affects the child.
• The doctor will often start with a low dose and gradually increase the dose.
• Get into the habit of giving your child the medicine at the same time every day. You may need the help of a teacher or nurse to give the medicine at school.
• If you forget to give a dose, take the next dose at the scheduled time. Do not give extra doses to make up for a missed dose. Do not give the medicine too late in the day.

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