Medications for ADHD

United Kingdom · CPD courses & CPD points · Health Professionals

The information provided below is intended to provide basic information about mental health medications. It is not a complete source for all medications available and should not be used as a guide for making medical decisions.

Stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. Stimulant medications are often prescribed to treat children, adolescents, or adults diagnosed with ADHD.

Stimulants used to treat ADHD include:

• Methylphenidate- Ritalin, Concerta (the difference between these two molecules is the way they are produced as well as the duration of effect, Ritalin comes in fast acting (10mg once or twice a day) as well as a slow release formulation (Ritalin LA 10-40mg) and Concerta which is a prolonged release formulation at dosages of 18 to 54mg) 

• Straterra (10-80mg) which is a non-stimulant medications may be tried first in a young person with ADHD, and if response is insufficient, then a stimulant is prescribed. 

Stimulants can also be prescribed to treat other health conditions, including narcolepsy, and occasionally depression (especially in older or chronically medically ill people and in those who have not responded to other treatments).

How do people respond to stimulants?

Prescription stimulants have a calming and “focusing” effect on individuals with ADHD. Stimulant medications are safe when given under a doctor's supervision. Some children taking them may feel slightly different or "funny."

Some parents worry that stimulant medications may lead to drug abuse or dependence, but there is little evidence of this when they are used properly as prescribed. Additionally, research shows that teens with ADHD who took stimulant medications were less likely to abuse drugs than those who did not take stimulant medications.

What are the possible side effects of stimulants?

Stimulants may cause side effects. Most side effects are minor and disappear when dosage levels are lowered. The most common side effects include:

• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

• Loss of appetite

• Stomach pain

• Headache

Less common side effects include:

• Motor tics or verbal tics 

• Personality changes, such as appearing “flat” or without emotion

Calabash · South Africa
Calabash Articles · South Africa
Calabash Partners · South Africa
Calabash Contributors · South Africa
Calabash Speakers · South Africa
Calabash Talks · South Africa
Calabash Sign up · South Africa
Calabash Sign in · South Africa
Registered Counsellors CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Speech Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Occupational Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Article · Helpful Lifestyle Changes for Patients with Tinnitus · South Africa
Article · Is sobriety a condition for therapy? · South Africa
Article · Tips for therapists in a School Setting · South Africa
Online therapy CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Consent CPD courses & CPD points · South Africa
Talk · New ways of Approaching Borderline Personality Disorder: Insights on Trauma & Addiction · South Africa
Talk · CBT with Children and Adolescents: Generalized Anxiety Disorder · South Africa
Talk · Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability: Assessment and Treatment principles · South Africa
Uploading a Talk · South Africa
Terms of Use · South Africa
About Contributors · South Africa
Calabash · Australia
Calabash Articles · Australia
Calabash Partners · Australia
Calabash Contributors · Australia
Calabash Speakers · Australia
Calabash Talks · Australia
Calabash Sign up · Australia
Calabash Sign in · Australia
Speech Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Occupational Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Audiologists CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Article · When things seem to be falling apart, just go to the bathroom: Insights and Tools from sports and performance psychology · Australia
Article · Tips to prevent non-payment · Australia
Article · Kangaroo Mother Care · Australia
Dyslexia CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Abduction CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Dementia CPD courses & CPD points · Australia
Talk · Sexual Abuse: Assessment, Psychological Effects & Legal Obligations · Australia
Talk · Working Therapeutically with Infants, Young Children and their Parents · Australia
Talk · South African Psychologists Moving to The UK: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started · Australia
About Partners · Australia
Privacy Policy · Australia
Terms of Use · Australia
Calabash · New Zealand
Calabash Articles · New Zealand
Calabash Partners · New Zealand
Calabash Contributors · New Zealand
Calabash Speakers · New Zealand
Calabash Talks · New Zealand
Calabash Sign up · New Zealand
Calabash Sign in · New Zealand
Psychiatrists CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Audiologists CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Medical Professionals CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Article · On Mindfulness · New Zealand
Article · Shape Shifters and the Vascular Labyrinth · New Zealand
Article · What to do when your client arrives for therapy inebriated or otherwise under the influence · New Zealand
Language CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
United States CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Oedipus Complex CPD courses & CPD points · New Zealand
Talk · Current Trends in Childhood Psychiatric Diagnosis · New Zealand
Talk · Adolescent Depression: Diagnosis, Risk Factors, & Treatment · New Zealand
Talk · Time-Limited Psychodynamic Psychotherapy · New Zealand
Privacy Policy · New Zealand
Frequently Asked Questions · New Zealand
How It Works · New Zealand
Calabash · United Kingdom
Calabash Articles · United Kingdom
Calabash Partners · United Kingdom
Calabash Contributors · United Kingdom
Calabash Speakers · United Kingdom
Calabash Talks · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign up · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign in · United Kingdom
Medical Professionals CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Physiotherapists CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Psychologists CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Article · Examining Exams: School, Stress, and the Impact on Young Minds · United Kingdom
Article · Kids, Teens & Screens: Webinar · United Kingdom
Article · Multidisciplinary Aspects of Stuttering Treatment · United Kingdom
Canada CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Perinatal Mental Health CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
HIV CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom
Talk · Intuitive Eating as a non-diet approach to use in practice · United Kingdom
Talk · Stuttering: An Overview of Assessment & Treatment · United Kingdom
Talk · What is Relational Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy? · United Kingdom
How It Works · United Kingdom
Uploading an Article · United Kingdom
Privacy Policy · United Kingdom
Calabash · United States
Calabash Articles · United States
Calabash Partners · United States
Calabash Contributors · United States
Calabash Speakers · United States
Calabash Talks · United States
Calabash Sign up · United States
Calabash Sign in · United States
Physiotherapists CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Occupational Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Psychiatrists CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Article · Confidentiality and Consent when working with Adolescents · United States
Article · CBT: Band-Aid Solution or Sufferer's Balm? · United States
Article · Note Taking in a Hospital Setting · United States
United Kingdom CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Psychotherapy CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Epilepsy CPD courses & CPD points · United States
Talk · Growing a Capacity for Self-reflective Practice amongst Educators, Allied Professionals and Parents in the Early Years · United States
Talk · The Schizoid Problem · United States
Talk · Use of low-tech tools and devices in Hand Therapy: The Wrist and Forearm · United States
Terms of Use · United States
About Contributors · United States
Uploading an Article · United States
Calabash · Canada
Calabash Articles · Canada
Calabash Partners · Canada
Calabash Contributors · Canada
Calabash Speakers · Canada
Calabash Talks · Canada
Calabash Sign up · Canada
Calabash Sign in · Canada
Physiotherapists CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Medical Professionals CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Psychiatrists CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Article · Therapy Dogs · Canada
Article · Apps, Language & Learning: What you need to know · Canada
Article · Salisha Maharaj on Tips for New Therapists · Canada
Board Exam CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Fathers CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Attachment Theory CPD courses & CPD points · Canada
Talk · Motor learning principles and feeding · Canada
Talk · Sexual Abuse: Assessment, Psychological Effects & Legal Obligations · Canada
Talk · The Ethics of Prescribing Psychiatric Drugs To Children · Canada
About Partners · Canada
Terms of Use · Canada
Uploading an Article · Canada
Psychologist in Sydney