In Australia, atomoxetine (Strattera®) is the only non-stimulant medication approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (Commonwealth Department of Health) for the treatment of ADHD.
For those people who do not want to take the medication route behavioral therapy, nutrition and lifestyle changes, and/or brain training, among other natural therapies designed to improve focus and impulsivity may help alleviate some ADHD symptoms.
Ritalin is a brand name for methylphenidate, and Vyvanse is the brand name for lisdexamfetamine. Both drugs are CNS stimulants and both are believed to have a similar mechanism of action; however, some trials indicate that Vyvanse may be more effective at relieving ADHD symptoms than Ritalin.
Valerian is an herbal supplement that may help with certain ADHD symptoms, such as hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity, according to some research .
Some studies suggest that certain nutritional supplements, such as zinc, magnesium, iron, melatonin, and omega-3 fatty acids, can help manage ADHD symptoms.
Most people who take medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) take a drug called a stimulant. Adderall and Ritalin are both in that category. They help control levels of two chemicals in your brain, dopamine and norepinephrine, that affect how well you concentrate.
If you're taking ADHD medicine and your symptoms don't improve or they get worse, tell your doctor. They may recommend that you slowly increase your dose. If that doesn't work, you may have to try a different drug.
ADHD specialists recommend methylphenidates as the first-choice medication for treating children and adolescents, and amphetamines as the first-choice medication for adults.
Can ADHD Be Treated Without Drugs? ADHD and ADD can be successfully treated without drugs; however, that does not mean that a patient should stop taking ADHD medications unless they've been advised to do so by a Physician.
Alternative treatments for ADHD include elimination diets, supplementation with omega-3s, parent training, exercise, yoga and meditation, neurofeedback, and memory training.
In Australia, the psychostimulant medications mainly used to treat ADHD are dexamfetamine, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine. Methylphenidate is available as a short-acting preparation (e.g. Ritalin®) and as a long-acting or extended release preparation (e.g. Ritalin LA®, Concerta®).
ADHD Medication Summary
Concerta and Ritalin share the same active ingredient. However, Ritalin is a short-acting stimulant that boosts focus and attention quickly. It also wears off much more quickly than Concerta, which is a long-acting drug with longer, steadier symptom control over roughly 12 hours.
Long-Term Effects of Ritalin Use
Delusions, hallucinations, and other signs of a psychotic disorder. Frequent seizure activity. Anorexia and marked weight loss. Alternating bouts of mania and depression.
Symptoms can include depression, insomnia, nausea, and fatigue. 2 weeks: By the second week, your symptoms will start to subside. Psychological symptoms tend to linger longer than physical ones; you may continue to experience anxiety and depression. Cravings also last longer than other acute symptoms.
ADHD medication rebound, sometimes called the “rebound effect,” is a flare of ADHD symptoms at the time a stimulant medication wears off. It is the brain's reaction to the ADHD stimulant medication leaving the body, and it can result in an intense reaction or behavior change for roughly 60 minutes at the end of a dose.
Chronic Ritalin intake may result in permanent brain damage if prescribed in childhood [11]. Prefrontal cortex play the main role in highly integrated, executive, cognitive and behavioral functions such as non-verbal number processing [12].
Dexedrine has an average rating of 8.6 out of 10 from a total of 113 ratings on Drugs.com. 84% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 6% reported a negative effect. Ritalin has an average rating of 7.0 out of 10 from a total of 200 ratings on Drugs.com.
From a strictly physical standpoint, it appears Ritalin can be taken safely every day. On the other hand, one can cease taking it for a day, a month, or a year, and it should work pretty much the same as the last time it was taken.
ADHD brains have low levels of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is linked arm-in-arm with dopamine. Dopamine is the thing that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure center. The ADHD brain has impaired activity in four functional regions of the brain.
Magnesium could be helpful for children with ADHD because it plays a role in brain health. This essential mineral regulates numerous hormones that can influence mood and neurological health. For ADHD patients in particular, magnesium helps by acting as a gatekeeper between certain neurotransmitters and their receptors.
There is no conclusive data to support nutrient deficiencies as a cause of ADHD. However, research does exist demonstrating that patients with ADHD have reduced levels of vitamin D, zinc, ferritin, and magnesium.