Modern Medication Reference for ADD/ADHD

Pros and Cons of ADD/ADHD Medications

Stimulants have been used to treat ADD since the 1960’s. Even though researchers agree that 80% of patients experience relief from using stimulants, they do not know exactly how these drugs work. Most believe that the drug stimulates the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. Drug therapy is controversial because so little is known about the stimulants, and there are questions as to what the long term effects may be. This comprehensive guide provides information on both the positive and negative effects of drug therapy to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Pros

• 80% of patients experience relief. For that 80%, drugs like Ritalin help to decrease impulsiveness and sharpen focus.
• Drugs like Ritalin can help reduce hyperactivity. Many patients treated with Ritalin claim to feel calmer and more able to sit still for long periods.
• When drug therapy is beneficial, it can improve the patient’s self-confidence and self-esteem. When a patient feels that he/she is able to take action to control his/her behavior, they feel empowered about the choices in their life.
• Drug therapy can allow for organized thinking. People with ADD often suffer from disorganized thoughts, and therefore, disorganized lives. Drugs like Ritalin allow patients internal thoughts to be organized; in turn, their external lives reflect these positive changes,

Cons

• Drug therapy may not work for everyone. The remaining 20% of patients will not find relief from drug therapy. It is impossible to tell who will benefit from drugs like Ritalin.
• A regimented pill schedule is often difficult to maintain. People with ADD are notorious for being forgetful and unorganized. It is valuable, therefore, to have a friend or family member remind the patient when a pill needs to be taken.
• Drug therapy does not “cure” ADD. Drug therapy will work in some individuals to relieve symptoms; however, once the effects of the drug wear off, the ADD is still there. This means that some patients may rely on the drug for many years. Some patients also note that ADD symptoms are worse when the pill wears off than they were originally. Time release capsules may help this issue, though it continues to be a pressing concern.
• There are side effects to taking drugs like Ritalin. The most common are sleep disturbances, and weight loss. Adults with ADD must also worry about high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack and strokes.
• There haven’t been studies as to the long-term effects of drug therapy. It is simply too soon to tell what the long-term effects of daily doses of drugs like Ritalin can have on the body.
• There is a potential for drug abuse in those who take Ritalin-like drugs. Research has shown that those who use drug therapy to control their ADD have a higher chance of becoming dependent on other illegal stimulants later in life.

The first step in determining which treatment is best for you is speaking with a doctor about your options. He or she can best discuss your patient history and develop a long-term plan for living with ADD.

There are a variety of ADD/ADHD medications available with a doctor’s prescription . The medications that seem to be the most effective are a class of drugs known as stimulants. The following is a list of the stimulants, their trade (or brand) names, and their generic names. Some people get better results from one medication, some from another. It is important to work with the prescribing physician to find the right ADD/ADHD medication and the right dosage. For many people, the stimulants dramatically reduce their hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve their ability to focus, work, and learn. The medications may also improve physical coordination, such as that needed in handwriting and in sports.

ADD / ADHD Medications

Medication information reprinted with permission from the National Institute for Mental Health

Trade Name	Generic Name
Adderall	amphetamine
Concerta	methylphenidate (long acting)
Cylert*	pemoline
Dexedrine	dextroamphetamine
Dextrostat	dextroamphetamine
Focalin	dexmethylphenidate
Metadate ER	methylphenidate (extended release)
Metadate CD	methylphenidate (extended release)
Ritalin	methylphenidate
Ritalin SR	methylphenidate (extended release)
Ritalin LA	methylphenidate (long acting)

*Because of its potential for serious side effects affecting the liver, Cylert should not ordinarily be considered as first-line drug therapy for ADHD.

The U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) recently approved a medication for ADHD that is not a stimulant. The medication, Strattera®, or atomoxetine, works on the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, whereas the stimulants primarily work on dopamine. Both of theses neurotransmitters are believed to play a role in ADHD. More studies will need to be done to contrast Strattera with the medications already available, but the evidence to date indicates that over 70 percent of children with ADHD given Strattera manifest significant improvement in their symptoms. Studies have not yet been established on Strattera’s effect on adults with ADD/ADHD.