List of Effective Stimulant Drugs for ADHD
Diagnosed with one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, millions of people take ADHD medications. In 2016, an estimated 4.4% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 44 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. Aside from adults, 9.4% of kids aged two to 17 years had been diagnosed with ADHD.
Medications for this condition are usually stimulants, such as Adderall XR, Vyvanse, and Concerta, but people can also take non-stimulants, such as Strattera or Intuniv XR.
Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant medications work by increasing the amounts of the hormones called dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which boosts concentration and decreases the fatigue that is common with ADHD.
These medications can help decrease ADHD symptoms in children and adults:
1. Adderall XR (Click the link to check the price)
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Adderall is a combination of two stimulant drugs, amphetamine, and dextroamphetamine, while Adderall XR is an extended-release form of the drug.
Adderall (but not Adderall XR) is also prescribed to treat narcolepsy.
The stimulant works to increase the release of dopamine and norepinephrine from their storage sites into the synapse. Acting on the central nervous system, it boosts the availability of neurotransmitters in the brain.
2. Ritalin (Click the link to check the price)
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Like Adderall, Ritalin works by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine in your CNS connections, which speeds up your brain activity.
Ritalin works sooner and reaches peak performance more quickly than Adderall does, but the latter stays active in your body longer than the former does.
Ritalin contains the same active ingredient as medications like Aptensio and Daytrana.
This medication is available in a variety of short, intermediate, and long-acting forms. It is available for children ages 6-12, adolescents, and adults up to age 65.
3. Vyvanse (Click the link to check the price)
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Vyvanse works primarily by inducing the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine from their storage areas in nerve terminals. The released transmitters contribute to maintaining alertness, increasing focus, and sustaining thought, effort, and motivation.
This central nervous system stimulant is not approved for use for children under the age of 6. Vyvanse is also approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat binge eating disorder in individuals over the age of 18.
It is supplied in 30 mg, 50 mg or 70 mg oral capsules designed for daily oral administration once a day.
4. Concerta (Click the link to check the price)
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Concerta can help you focus and provide a calming effect, but it is a powerful drug that should be taken with caution.
It can also be used to treat narcolepsy.
A single dose of this stimulant lasts up to 12 hours. Concerta contains methylphenidate, the same medication ingredient found in Ritalin. Categorized as a schedule II controlled substance, it can also be habit-forming.
Concerta comes in 18mg, 36mg, and 54mg tablets and is intended to be taken once a day.
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