Before we can fully appreciate a current list of ADHD medications first we should take a minute to better understand how they work. All of us feel better on certain days. One day we will have positive outlook, others the glass is always half empty. One day we will be focused and motivated only to wake up the next morning feeling sluggish and less than ready to meet the challenges life is sure to throw at us. The cause of this inconsistency is varying degrees of brain chemical messengers working in the brain, with the three primary players being dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Generally, speaking when you are talking about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder without preexisting conditions you are talking dopamine and norepinephrine. When preexisting conditions such as depression are present serotonin becomes a more important part of the overall equation. So the next time you visit your doctor concerning ADHD you can impress him by letting him know that you read on the internet that your dopamine must be out of whack and your brain receptors just aren't binding them very well today. So you would appreciate it if he would talk a little slower. On the other hand maybe you should just keep that one to yourself!
OK now it's time to get down to brass tacks, the nuts and bolts, or simply a current list of ADHD medications. The big gorilla that sits atop the fence of any list of ADHD medications are stimulants such as Ritalin. Let's take a look at these.
*Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, Focalin: These drug names account for well over half of all prescriptions written for ADHD and are available in a wide range of forms. Different brands use different delivery systems to get the medication into your system, and there are also differences among brands in how long the drugs take to reach their peak, how long they remain in the blood stream, and side effects. They come in three varieties, short acting (the original), long acting, and sustained release.
*Dexedrine: If you like old outdated cars and old music then this drug right off the oldies list of ADHD medications could be for you. But all things old aren't always bad, and this is the case with Dexedrine. It was one of the first drugs used to treat ADHD and is still considered one of the best, especially when adult ADHD is the subject. It is offered in both short and long acting forms.
*Adderall: Get out of the way there is a new sheriff in town or at least that is what Adderall told Dexedrine. The reason many medical professional favor this law man over Dexedrine is its impact on the brain neurotransmitter norepinephrine. It is available in short and long acting forms.
*Vyvanse: The name is catchy, in fact if you didn't know this was one of the latest and greatest entries on our list of ADHD medications you just might think it was the name of a new car, perfume, or sports drink. Nevertheless, Vyvanse seems to be the heir apparent to Dexedrine and Adderall due to the similarities in chemical composition. Another advantage is it poses less of a risk for substance abuse because injecting it or snorting it will not produce a temporary high. Before it can become effective, the body must convert it from its oral form to a stimulant form producing a smoother onset than its sister drug Adderall.
In conclusion, we have covered four of the major players on anyone's current list of ADHD medications, but the dark side is they all come with a number of label warnings and side effects. This has prompted some to opt for a natural approach combing behavioral therapy with natural ADHD remedies such as homeopathy. This powerful one two punch has proven to be a very effective alternative to ADHD stimulant medications and is certainly another treatment option worth considering.
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