Medications for ADHD & ADD

Before launching into a discussion of medications for ADHD and their side effects, let's first briefly review ADD and ADHD. Attention deficit disorder is defined as a poor or short attention span and impulsiveness which is inappropriate for the child's age, with or without hyperactivity. Hyperactivity is defined as a level of activity or excitement (usually in a child) that is high enough to cause concern for the child's parents. Even though the condition is primarily seen in school-aged children, please note that adults can also have this condition. No one really knows what causes ADHD but because it runs in families there is thought to be a genetic connection involved.

Medications for ADHD that seem to work the best are the ones that primarily and directly work on the brain molecules that transmit messages from one brain cell to another (aka neurotransmitters). The first line of treatments are the stimulants (or psychostimulants) but some newer non-stimulant medications have also been recently approved for treating ADHD.

Medications for ADHD:

• Adderall, Adderall XR (Amphetamine)
• Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine)
• Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Ritalin LA, Concerta, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Methylin, Methylin ER (Methylphenidate)
• Dexedrine, Dextrostat (Dextroamphetamine)
• Strattera (Atomoxetine)
• Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate)

For some people who have ADHD along with other emotional or mental health problems, doctors will sometimes prescribe some of the following medications. Please note though that these medications are NOT approved by the FDA for treating ADHD. They are:

• Geodon (Ziprasidone)
• Budeprion SR, Bupropan, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion)
• Clozaril (Clozapine)
• Zyprexa (Olanzapine)
• Seroquel (Quetiapine)
• Risperdal (Risperidone)
• Abilify (Aripiprazole)
• Catapres, Clorpres, Combipres (Clonidine)
• Tenex (Guanfacine)

Please note that in general, children with ADD don't outgrow the difficulties and issues associated with this condition. Certain problems may persist even throughout their adolescence and some new ones may emerge, particularly low self-esteem, anxiety, difficulty learning appropriate social behavior, among others.

If you are the parent of a child with ADD or ADHD, here are some simple strategies you can use to help build your child's self-confidence:

• First and foremost, make sure you let your child know that your love for him or her is totally unconditional, on the good days and most especially on the not-so-good days
• Identify what your child's strengths are and be sure to build on those. When your child is successful at something then he or she can feel a sense of accomplishment and pride about something.
• Since social skills are one of the areas where kids with ADD/ADHD tend to have problems help your child by training her or him in how to make friends and how to interact and cooperate with others.

Physicians of the utmost fame
Were called at once; but when they came
They answered as they took their fees
"There is no cure for this disease"
- Hilaire Belloc, "Henry King"

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April 28, 2009

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