Posted: April 29th, 2018

ADHD Medications That Use Chemical Stimulants

ADHD Medications That Use Chemical Stimulants: A Research Essay

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that affects about 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide. It causes a range of symptoms, such as problems with concentration, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and difficulty finishing tasks. ADHD can impair academic performance, social skills, and quality of life.

There are many treatments available for ADHD, including behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, coaching, and medication. Medication is often the first-line treatment for ADHD, especially for moderate to severe cases. The most common type of medication used for ADHD is stimulant drugs, which increase the levels of certain brain chemicals, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These chemicals are involved in attention, motivation, and reward processes in the brain. By boosting these chemicals, stimulants can help people with ADHD focus better, control their impulses, and reduce their hyperactivity.

However, stimulant drugs are not without drawbacks. They can cause side effects, such as insomnia, appetite loss, headache, anxiety, and irritability. They can also be abused or misused by people who do not have ADHD, or by people who have ADHD but take more than the prescribed dose. Stimulant abuse can lead to addiction, tolerance, withdrawal, and serious health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, psychosis, and death.

Therefore, it is important to understand how stimulant drugs work for ADHD, what are the benefits and risks of using them, and what are the alternatives or complementary treatments that can be used along with them. This essay will provide an overview of these topics based on the current scientific evidence.

Stimulant Drugs for ADHD: Types and Mechanisms

Stimulant drugs are classified into two main groups: amphetamines and methylphenidate. Both groups work by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, but they do so in slightly different ways.

Amphetamines include drugs such as amphetamine (Adderall), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and methamphetamine (Desoxyn). Amphetamines work by stimulating the release of dopamine and norepinephrine from nerve terminals and blocking their reuptake into the cells. This results in higher levels of these chemicals in the synapses (the gaps between nerve cells) where they can bind to their receptors and activate them.

Methylphenidate includes drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dexmethylphenidate (Focalin), and serdexmethylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate (Azstarys). Methylphenidate works mainly by blocking the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine into the cells, which also increases their levels in the synapses. However, methylphenidate may also have some effects on stimulating the release of these chemicals or enhancing their binding to their receptors.

Both amphetamines and methylphenidate come in different forms that vary in how long they last in the body. Some forms are short-acting (lasting 3 to 4 hours), some are intermediate-acting (lasting 6 to 8 hours), and some are long-acting (lasting 10 to 12 hours). The choice of form depends on several factors, such as the severity of symptoms, the time of day when symptoms are worse, the preference of the patient or caregiver, and the potential for abuse or misuse.

Stimulant Drugs for ADHD: Benefits and Risks

Stimulant drugs are effective for treating ADHD symptoms in about 70% to 80% of children and 70% of adults who take them. They can improve attention span, reduce distractibility, increase task completion, enhance learning and memory,

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