By Ben Martin, Psy.D.

Table of Contents:

• An Introduction to ADHD
• Symptoms of ADHD
• Problems Related to ADHD
• Causes of ADHD
• How is ADHD diagnosed?
• Treatment of ADHD
• Additional Treatments for ADHD
• ADHD in Adults
• Getting Help for ADHD
• Future Directions in ADHD
• Resources for ADHD

Treatment for attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is typically focused on medications with a specific class of medication called “stimulants.” These stimulant medications (like Ritalin [methylphenidate] or Adderall [an amphetamine]) are commonly prescribed, well-tolerated, have few side effects. These medications also have a robust research base supporting their effectiveness in treatment of attention deficit disorder.

Children vary a great deal in their response to medication treatments. Finding the combination with the highest efficacy and fewest side-effects is a challenge in every case. A child’s prescribing physician (preferably, a child psychiatrist rather than a general practitioner or pediatrician) will aim to discover the medication and dose that’s best for your child. If one medication doesn’t appear to be working after a few weeks of treatment, a doctor will often try another medication. This is normal and most people will switch medications to find the one that works best for them at least once.

Many parents may be concerned about having stimulant medications prescribed to their child. This is a typical concern amongst parents, but such medications are not addicting, nor do they produce a “high” in a person with ADHD who takes them. Researchers are still unclear as to why stimulant medications do not “over-stimulate” people who take them, but it is hypothesized that people with ADHD have a problem with certain neurotransmitters in their brain that the medication helps correct. We do not yet know exactly why some drugs help some people, but not others, nor the exact mechanism that makes stimulants effective. We do know that they work in most people who take them, effectively treating the symptoms of attention deficit disorder.

Medications Used to Treat ADHD

Drug treatment for ADHD began decades ago. Some of the best results have been found with the stimulant drugs listed below. “Approved age” means that the drug has been tested and found safe and effective in children of that age.