ADHD Medication

Written by Matt McMillen , Jennifer Walker-Journey, Lori M. King, PhD ADHD Medication

Stimulant ADHD Medications

Non-Stimulant ADHD Medications

Off-Label Antidepressant ADHD Medications

15 min read

Medication may be an important part of your treatment plan for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Doctors can choose from many types of drugs to control your symptoms. Whichever ADHD medication you and your doctor choose, they all work the same – to increase levels of certain chemicals in your brain (called neurotransmitters). These chemicals help reduce symptoms (such as hyperactivity and impulsivity), increase attention span, and help you manage your emotions. ADHD medication can help reduce your symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness and may be the cornerstone of your treatment. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) You and your doctor will work together to figure out which medication is right for you, along with the ideal dose (amount) and schedule (how often or when you need to take it). It may take some time to find the best combination.

Medications may not work for all ADHD symptoms or affect everyone the same way. A combination of medication, therapy, behavior changes, and skills training is often the most effective treatment. This is called multimodal treatment.

Types of ADHD medications The medications most often used to treat ADHD include: Stimulants. These medicines are called stimulants because they increase the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. These two chemicals have important effects on your ability to think and pay attention. Non-stimulants. In cases where stimulants don’t work or cause unpleasant side effects, non-stimulants might help. These medicines take longer to start working than stimulants, but they may help improve your ability to focus, pay attention, and control your impulses. Sometimes, doctors may prescribe these along with a stimulant to improve how both work. Antidepressants. In the U.S., these aren’t approved by the FDA for ADHD treatment, but some people find they help control the symptoms of ADHD. So your doctor may try these if you have side effects from stimulants. Also, people with ADHD often have depression, anxiety , or other mood disorders (such […]

ADHD Medication