Patients who have a history of heart conditions, arrhythmias, blood pressure, and tic disorders should take stimulants with caution. However they are a controlled substance and should be taken with caution. Stimulants are a good first line treatment that help alleviate common symptoms seen in adults with ADHD as well as adolescents, including restlessness and hyperactivity. Children under six years old, however, are advised to work with a behavioral therapist rather than stimulant medication.
They are used as the first line medical treatment for patients with symptoms of ADHD. In both ways they increase the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain. Stimulant medications work through two main mechanisms. Many of the non-stimulant medications are used as an off-label treatment for ADHD, which means that they do not have approval by the FDA, but have been shown to be effective in some patients with ADHD. Non-stimulant medications can work on similar neurotransmitters by decreasing their degradation in the brain. Stimulant medications work by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin sent to the brain, as well as stopping them from being degraded. The major difference between stimulant and non-stimulant medications are their mechanisms of action, their side effect profiles, and their interaction with other medications that patients may be taking. Stimulant medications have been shown to be the most effective medication for symptom management in ADHD and may be a good initial treatment. While they both work to increase concentration and attentiveness and decrease impulsivity seen in ADHD, one may be a better fit for certain individuals than others. The two main medications used to treat ADHD include stimulants and non-stimulants.
In order to decide if medication is right for you, and if you should be taking a stimulant or non stimulant ADHD medication, you and your care team should take into account your goals for treatment, your medical history (including history of stimulant use and how it affected you), the potential side effects of the medication, as well as other medications you are taking. Treatment for ADHD is multimodal in nature and should always be discussed with your doctor and mental health professionals you’re working with.
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