ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder, is a disease which is affecting an increasing percentage of children all across the United States. It isn’t a new disease exactly, but there still aren’t many options for dealing with it. There are certain medications which show some promise, as well as other drugs which have already proven their ability to help deal with some of the worst symptoms of ADHD. However, without treating the causes of those symptoms, how much help can any of these drugs really be? Parents of children suffering from ADHD could tell you exactly how helpful some of the following ADHD medications can be.

Stimulant Medications

Right now, stimulants are the most prescribed medications for dealing with ADHD symptoms. Inside every brain are certain compounds called neurotransmitters – these help to relay signals and regulate behavior in a person. Several stimulant medications help to increase and balance levels of these chemicals found in the brain. This modification to the inner workings of the brain can sometimes have dramatic effects on both hyperactivity and the lack of attention which are common with ADHD. Not every medicine is going to work as well for every child, but there are certain drugs which do show promise.

• Methylphenidate – This is a highly popular stimulant medication for ADHD. It goes by many other names, but you’ve probably heard it referred to as Ritalin most prevalently. Methylphenidate has been shown to significantly increase cognitive function in some users and is a proven aid in concentration and consistent thinking.
• Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine – More commonly called Adderall but also going by the name Vyvanse, this class of stimulant medication has also been shown to aid the user in concentration and maintaining a line of thought long enough to see it to its end. Both of these drugs work in similar ways but personal brain chemistry can seriously affect how well they work.

Side Effects

It is a rare occurrence, but some patients who use stimulant medications die due to complications and side effects. Cardiac events causing death have been reported and while the rate of occurrence is extremely low, it is still a noteworthy fact about these types of ADHD drugs. Other alternatives exist without this particular side effect but again, different drugs will work differently for different people. Some patients can benefit greatly from a stimulant but some others could be seriously harmed by the same. Be sure to talk with your doctor about your family’s medical history before any prescriptions are written.

Antidepressants

While certain stimulants have been shown to make an inattentive child or adult more recognizant of the things going on around them, the side effects vary widely. Some people would rather go with a solution which presents fewer risks, but there really isn’t any perfect ADHD medication. If stimulants don’t appear to be working or they’re too dangerous for a patient, antidepressants can also help relieve ADHD symptoms and improve the quality of life for someone suffering from the disorder. There are several which come highly recommended, including the following:

• Bupropion – You may not recognize this name but you’ve probably heard of Wellbutrin in the past if you’ve been looking at antidepressants. Unlike stimulants which tend to have more immediate and visible results, Wellbutrin and other antidepressants work more slowly for two reasons. First, they take a longer time to build up a workable level of the drug in the user’s system. Second, these drugs are meant to work over a longer period of time, throughout a day really, so they are naturally designed for a slow release.

Side Effects

It is important to remember that while stimulants may pose unique health risks, antidepressants cause their own particular issues which should be considered before taking new medication. Suicidal thoughts and even actions are not unheard of among adults using antidepressants and the rate of occurrence for adverse behaviors is actually higher among children. It has something to do with the brain chemistry of a developing mind not being quite as rigid as that of a fully grown adult brain. Whatever the cause behind them, anyone who starts having suicidal thoughts while taking an antidepressant should immediately seek medical help.

There are no perfect ADHD drugs which will work for every single case which presents itself. The only way to find out which works best for you or your child is to try and see. This will take some time and an understanding that even among the scientific community, there’s little knowledge as to how brains really work. They aren’t drilling holes in people’s heads to let the demons out anymore (trepanning, it really happened), but they still have a long way to go in fully understanding the functions of the human brain. ADHD medications do exist which can help reduce the severity of symptoms, so many people have hope for help today and now.