Is there something I can do besides taking medication for ADHD?
Apart from medications someone suffering from ADHD will have to go through behavioral therapy. Medication is necessary for this disorder but it works better if accompanied with behavior therapy by a trained and experienced therapist. There is limited evidence for other forms of treatment such as diet, biofeedback. Allergy treatments are not recommended. There just is no evidence that these practices are suited for ADHD.
Therapy will help a patient of ADHD focus on jobs at hand by improving concentration and helping the patient help himself or herself.
Medications help by improving brain transmissions by increasing the number of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals present in the brain that assist a person in focusing, controlling impulses, help in organization and planning and also adhere to routines. Medications taken for ADHD help patients concentrate and focus as well as ignore distractions. Majority of patients on ADHD medications are able to live a complete life and to their full potential.
If the medications are taken according to the prescribed method and timings they are not harmful. However, there are side effects to all medications. With ADHD these side effects happen early in the medication process and do not last too long. Some of the most common side effects of ADHD medications include sleeplessness, loss of appetite, weight loss, headaches and stomach aches. If you experience any of these symptoms when you take your medications it is best that you inform your doctor.
Less common effects of ADHD medications include local twitching around the face or arms and mood swings when the medications wear off.
The need for medicating the disorder depends on the patient. Some patients need to take medications for the rest of their life but this need of medications will keep changing over time. Many patients of ADHD have managed to control their disorder through behavior therapy and are leading a normal life without medication.
Medications should not change your personality because they cannot change who you are. If you do notice changes in your moods and your personality you should bring it to the notice of your doctor as soon as possible.
ADHD medications will not affect your growth. Significant growth defect is a very rare side effect of ADHD medication but as we said it is very rare indeed. Once children are started on the medications, your pediatrician/psychiatrist may want to monitor his/her growth parameters every 6 months.
If you are taking short acting ADHD medication, those that last for four hours you will probably have to take medication at school. However, if this is problem you should talk to your pediatrician about it and derive a solution for longer lasting ADHD medication.
Will I be branded a drug user if I take ADHD medication.
Absolutely not! Though you will have to take medication regularly to control your behavior this will never lead to drug addiction.
0.1.1. Do I need to take medication at school?
0.1.2. Will my growth be affected by the medications?
0.1.3. Is there a possibility of the medications changing my personality?
0.1.4. Will a patient of ADHD have to take medications for the rest of their life?
0.1.5. Are there any side effects of ADHD medications?
0.1.6. Can medicines help a patient with ADHD?
