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Page 1 of 3 Get an overview of the types of ADHD medications, from stimulant to non-stimulant medications, for treatment of ADHD.
ADHD Medications
When it comes to treating your ADHD child with medications, parent involvement is extremely important to:
- ensure the child takes the required doses on time
- monitor for side effects and effectiveness of the drug
- enlist the school’s help when medication needs to be taken during school hours.
Medication is the first-line treatment for ADHD and includes the following types of drugs:
Stimulants for Treating ADHD
Stimulants that decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity and increase attention are commonly used to treat ADHD. These medications are used with careful monitoring and compliance and may improve symptoms in approximately 70–90% of cases. In children with ADHD, an improvement in symptoms often leads to an improvement in self-esteem.
These drugs increase the levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Higher levels of dopamine are thought to reduce hyperactivity, while an increase in norepinephrine improves attention. The effects of low serotonin levels in children with ADHD are not fully understood.
The following stimulants are used to treat ADHD:
Methylphenidate (Ritalin®, Concerta®, Methylin®) is the most widely studied ADHD drug. Ritalin is available as a once daily preparation.
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®, Dextrostat®) is available in long-lasting doses. The combination of dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine (Adderall®), two amphetamines, is shown to be effective, though it is not prescribed as often as methylphenidate, and is available as a once daily preparation.
In October of 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew approval for magnesium pemoline (Cylert®), a drug that had been used rarely as a second-line medication to treat ADHD. This medication carries a high risk for liver failure. Generic versions have remained on the market to allow physicians to find alternative treatments for their patients. Magnesium pemoline has been associated with 13 deaths due to liver failure since its introduction in 1975, and liver function levels must be monitored every 2 weeks during treatment.
In February of 2006, an FDA advisory panel recommended the most serious warning label (i.e., "black box" safety warning) for these ADHD medications, due to an increased risk for severe cardiovascular problems in adults and children. Studies have shown an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure (hypertension), and abnormal heart beat (arrhythmia).
Magnesium pemoline (Cylert®) is given once a day. It is not a first-line drug because it carries a risk for liver failure. It is used rarely, perhaps if other drugs fail to produce results, and liver function levels must be monitored every 2 weeks during treatment. It has been associated with 13 deaths due to liver failure since its introduction in 1975.
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