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Treatments and Medications for Attention Deficit Disorder |
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Medications Commonly Prescribed To Improve Behavior, Mood and Learning
| CATEGORY |
MEDICATIONS |
THERAPEUTIC (+) EFFECTS AND
SIDE (-) EFFECTS |
| Psychostimulants |
Ritalin® (methylphenidate)
Dexedrine® (dextroamphetamine)
Desoxyn® (methamphetamine)
Adderall® (amphetamines)
Cylert ® (pemoline)
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(+) May reduce impulsivity, increase attentional strength, diminish motor activity, enhance certain memory functions
(-) May cause tics, loss of appetite, growth delays, sleep problems, personality change; Cylert® may disrupt liver function
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Tricyclic
Antidepressants |
Desipramine® (pertofrane)
Anafranil® (clomipramine)
Elavil® (amitriptyline)
Tofranil® (imipramine)
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(+) May reduce anxiety, depressive symptoms, aggression, overactivity, obsessive-compulsive signs
(-) May cause sedation, changes in heart rhythm, gastrointestinal disturbance
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| Aminoketones |
Wellbutrin® (bupropion) |
(+) May reduce hyperactivity, anxiety and aggressive tendencies
(-) May cause insomnia, headaches, gastrointestinal distress, seizures
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Lithium
Preparations |
Eskalith® (lithium) |
(+) May be effective in bipolar illness (Manic-depression); may also help in depression when other drugs fail
(-) May cause gastrointestinal upset, tremor, weight gain, urinary symptoms, poor motor coordination
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Serotonin
Re-uptake
Inhibitors |
Prozac® (fluoxetine)
Zoloft® (sertraline)
Paxil® (paroxetine)
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(+) May reduce anxiety, impulsivity, overactivity, obsessive-compulsive tendencies
(-) May worsen attention deficits, cause nervousness, result in oversedation
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Anti-psychotic
Agents |
Haldol® (haloperidol)
Mellaril® (thioridazine)
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(+) May help attention in low doses, reduce tics in Tourette Syndrome, lessen aggressive symptoms
(-) May be overly sedative, interfere with cognition and learning, cause movement disorder (tardive dyskinesia)
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Alpha-Adrenergic
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Catapres® (Clonidine)
Tenex® (guanfacine) |
(+) May increase frustration tolerance, reduce impulsivity, improve task oriented behaviors in children with motoric overactivity, lessen tics in Tourette Syndrome, improve sleep
(-) May overly sedate, cause fall in blood pressure, induce depression or other mood disorder
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*All of these medications have some possible additional effects, both detrimental and beneficial. Different children are apt to respond or react differently to the same drug. There are some differences in effects, side effects, and duration's of action between the drugs within a single category. Some of these medications have not been fully tested in children. (Click on any of the drug names in the above table for MORE information on that specific medication.)
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Last Updated( Apr 08, 2009 )
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reviewed by: Harry Croft, MD
Psychiatrist, HealthyPlace.com Medical Director
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