Most Commonly Prescribed Drugs to Treat Adult ADHD
Over the past fifteen years, the medication options for treating adult ADHD have greatly expanded. Today, the most popular medications for treating the disease include stimulant drugs and a wide variety of nonstimulant drugs in various drug categories.
Despite the growing number of medication options, stimulant medications, including methylphenidate (such as Ritalin), and dextroamphetamine compounds (such as Dextrostat, Dexedrine Spansules, and Adderall) remain the most commonly prescribed drugs for adult ADHD.
Stimulant medications like Ritalin and Adderall remain the most frequently prescribed drugs, but they are no longer the only line of defense for adults with ADHD. Other medications that are sometimes prescribed off-label for adult ADHD include TCAs such as Elavil.
Medications that may be prescribed for comorbid conditions include serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, such as Prozac and Zoloft, and mood stabilizers. Although no antidepressants have been approved by the FDA for treating adult ADHD, they are often prescribed off-label to alleviate its symptoms.
In 2002, the nonstimulant drug Strattera became the first medication approved by the FDA specifically for the treatment of ADHD in adults. Strattera is not a Class II stimulant, so there is also no abuse potential.
Things to Remember If You're Considering Medication
Drug treatment for adult ADHD requires that you maintain an open line of communication with your physician to ensure you are taking the right drug at the right dose. This can be vital if you suffer adverse side effects and need to take corrective measures or if a drug stops working for you.
Medications are not magic bullets or cures, but part of an overall treatment approach. Because the first medication you try may not be the drug that offers you the most benefits, it's important to pay attention to how medications affect your symptoms and what side effects occur.
Essential
Medication for adult ADHD can help relieve symptoms, but it should not be regarded as a substitute for mastering strategies and healthy lifestyle habits or for the many types of therapies that could help you better cope on a daily basis with the symptoms and challenges presented by the disorder.
Remember to be patient; you and your doctor may need to experiment with various medications before you find the medication, amount, and dosing schedule that works best for you.
The Role of Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are done to isolate distinct symptoms of ADHD in adults as well as to develop new medications and treatments. However, more clinical trials are needed to determine if adult ADHD medications both alleviate symptoms and lead to permanent improvements in executive functions like planning, organizing, and prioritizing.
