What sort of drugs are usually prescribed for adults with ADD?

Answer 1

Many doctors will want to try Strattera first for adults because it doesn't have the potential for abuse that stimulants have. I'm still trying to work out the "not a stimulant" thing, though, as one of the side effects is sleep disruption, an overdose can cause rapid heart rate, and it works by increasing the levels of a neurotransmitter that's invovled in alertness and arousal. But it definitely doesn't have the same short-term increase in "awakeness" (like super-charged caffeine) that stimulants do, so it's not particularly useful for staying up all night studying or such, which is what stimulants tend to be abused for. Doctors are often reluctant to prescribe stimulants to an adult (unless they've been on them since childhood) because it can be hard to be certain that they are genuinely ADHD and aren't simply planning to abuse the drugs.

If Strattera isn't effective, or if the doctor isn't comfortable prescribing it (most GP's are unwilling to prescribe Strattera because it's relatively new on the market and they're not familiar with it), adult ADHD can be treated with the same stimulants that are used to treat ADHD in children. Actually, many stimulants are not weight-dependent and so will often be prescribed at the same doses as are given to children with ADHD.

If tranditional ADHD medications (i.e. stimulants and Strattera) don't work, certain antidepressants are sometimes effective in controlling the symptoms of ADHD in both children and adults (although more so in children because the symptoms of depression in children can sometimes be mistaken for ADHD, especially if the child doesn't report feeling depressed, but not so much in adults).

Answer 2

Pretty much the same ones prescribed for kids. There are the stimulant medications like Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta, and the medications in the anti-depressant class, like Wellbutrin and Strattera. Some doctors are leary of prescribing stimulants to adults, though, so they'd probably be more likely to prescribe Strattera.

Answer 3

Adderall is a stimulant, like Ritalin, and therefore is a controlled substance (annoying when you need a refill.) Strattera and sometimes Wellbutrin or Clonidine are also prescribed for ADD.

Answer 4

Strattera or Adderall

Answer 5

It's best to start with Strattera since it is non amphetamine.
Antidepressants can be used too.

Answer 6

Yeah, certainly everybody's upload anymore. while i grow to be turning out to be up you have been purely a knucklehead. look, end searching for excuses! if your MD won't get you a script, then there's a reason.

Answer 7

My husband has ADD really bad. But he does not take medication for it. he has learned how to control it on his own. but he use to take Ritalin.