Stimulant Medications for ADHD

The best ADHD drugs for youngsters elevate the two chemical levels in kids’ brains. These substances go under the names dopamine and norepinephrine. Kids can focus better when they use them sparingly. These drugs, which are referred to as stimulants, are available in a variety of forms. While some have a brief half-life and disappear in a few hours, others have a 12-hour half-life. The majority of children with ADHD will benefit from taking a stimulant drug. Doctors advise trying a different medicine if the first one your child tries doesn’t work or has unfavorable side effects.

Methylphenidate is a popular kind of ADHD medicine. This contains, among other things, Concerta, Ritalin, and Focalin. Children who need to maintain focus later in the afternoon may find Concerta helpful because it has a longer half-life than Ritalin. For children who have trouble swallowing their prescription medications, there are also liquid choices.

The other main class of ADHD medications comprises of amphetamine-containing medications, such as Adderall, Dexedrine, and others. In general, these have somewhat comparable effects to methylphenidate medicines, but they are a little stronger and last a little longer. Another option is Adderall-XR extended-release. The final medication is vyvanse, which has a 14-hour half-life and is powdered. For most younger children, that is too long, but teens and young adults might find it useful.

Dopamine and norepinephrine are two neurochemicals to take into account when studying stimulant medications for ADHD treatment. The ability to focus and pay attention is necessary for the pre-frontal cortex portion of the brain. Consider it the brain’s secretary: the center for executive functioning, which includes planning, executing, and arranging.

You are reasonably concentrated if your norepinephrine and dopamine levels are at their ideal levels. However, the brain may become overstimulated if you receive too much. Then, it appears that your ADHD is becoming worse. Particularly teenagers think, “Well, if it’s good at this dose, more will be even better.” No, it won’t. Both the intensity and frequency of side effects could worsen. Thus, striking the correct balance is crucial.

When it comes to stimulant medications for ADHD, there are numerous possibilities, but not all of them are created equal. If the drug I’m taking doesn’t seem to be working as well as I would want, I want to try another one. Children’s responses to different formulations might be highly varied.

Effectiveness of medications

If you have ADHD, there is a greater than 80% chance that you will benefit from medication, according to study. Of those, 50% will respond to the two main classes of ADHD medications in a comparable manner: methylphenidate (Ritalin and other brands) and amphetamine (Adderall and other brands). Methylphenidate is more effective for half of the remaining 50%, whereas amphetamine is better for the other half.

There are other medications that don’t rely on stimulants, despite the fact that they are significantly less effective in treating symptoms.

It might be challenging to administer a dose of stimulant drugs that is both long-lasting and effective. Ritalin was originally prescribed in 1961 to address ADHD in kids enrolled in kindergarten or first grade. It was three or four hours later. But kindergarteners have homework these days, and kids need to focus for longer amounts of time as they grow older to do well in school and get along with their family and friends. Technology has been developed to make pharmaceuticals release gradually and peak at the proper time, removing the need for users to remember to take them numerous times a day.

Stimulant Medication Charts

Obtain charts that compare ADHD stimulant medications based on their duration of action and form (liquid, pill, capsule, or patch).

Methylphenidate medications

The methylphenidate formulation Ritalin, the oldest of them all, has a short half-life of three to four hours. Focalin is another methylphenidate molecule that also lasts for around four hours. Both of these medications begin to act 30 to 45 minutes after ingestion. For children who have trouble swallowing tablets, this medication can be crushed and taken with meals. There are also options for the short-acting methylphenidate liquid and chewable tablet versions.

Methylphenidate is a popular kind of ADHD medicine. This contains, among other things, Concerta, Ritalin, and Focalin. Since Concerta has a longer half-life than Ritalin, it might be useful for kids who need to stay focused later in the afternoon. There are also liquid options for kids who have problems swallowing their prescription drugs.

Long-acting formulas

Certain formulations of methylphenidate are intended to release at their peak over an extended period of time.

First up is Concerta, which is the equivalent of three Ritalin tablets and lasts for eight to twelve hours. It is among the methylphenidate medications with the longest half-lives. Concerta is unique in that you can’t chew on it or crack it open due to its hard shell. It must be swallowed whole, which could be challenging for certain kids. It is available in triple release: Since the medication is first applied externally, its effects will become apparent in ten to fifteen minutes. The push compartment is filled with a polymer fiber that expands like a sponge when it gets wet, and the drug is pushed out via a laser hole on one end of the compartment. The pill is not digested in its whole.

The beads in Ritalin-LA are also dispersed 50/50, which means that half will be administered immediately, peaking in the morning, and the other half will be released 30 minutes later, for a duration of six to eight hours. As a result, your two-phase effect on attention and focus is noticeably stronger.

Aptensio XR and Focalin XR are medication capsules that can be opened and mixed with food. They typically persist longer than Ritalin LA or MetadateCD.

Quillichew ER is a chewable form of methylphenidate that has an eight-hour half-life.

The patch

And then there’s Daytrana, also known as the methylphenidate patch. Because the hip has less muscle than other parts of the body and will allow the medication to enter the bloodstream more quickly, the patch works as a drug carpet enclosed in glue. To apply it, remove the liner.

Typically, children aren’t as enthusiastic. Some kids find it offensive when adults wear patches. They’ll succeed since many kids with ADHD are tactile learners. Additionally, once you remove it, it remains off. Some college students I know, meanwhile, like the patch since it frees them from having to remember to take their prescription later in the day and lets them wear it for as long as they like. Children can still go asleep even if they forget to remove the patch because it only contains medication for nine to ten hours.

Amphetamine medications

Adderall, Evekeo, Zenzedi, and Dexedrine are short-acting amphetamines that take effect 30 to 45 minutes after ingesting them and continue to work for 4 to 6 hours. Amphetamines generally have effects similar to methylphenidate, however they tend to be a little stronger and last a little longer.

Long-acting formulas

Like methylphenidate, a number of amphetamine preparations have been created that release the medication gradually, extending the duration of the medication’s useful life. This is quite beneficial when attempting to provide a response that spans the full school day, or around six to eight hours. Some of these ingredients begin to function almost as quickly as the short-acting forms of these medications.

Adderall XR, the more potent form, is meant to last ten to twelve hours. It’s a capsule that contains 50/50 beads, which release half of them at once and the other half gradually. You can crack open the capsule and mix the beads into your food.