ADHD Medication - A Guide to Prescription and Non Prescription ADHD Medication
ADHD medication can help manage hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. There are treating adhd without medication Iampsychiatry of drugs - stimulants and non-stimulants.
In Europe and in the UK, stimulants are the most common ADHD drugs prescribed. They are a part of the methylphenidate class of drugs (including Ritalin) and the amphetamine salts.
GPs should NOT increase their prescriptions during the interruption in supply. GPs are advised to look at alternative bioequivalent products.
Licenseed
When it comes to the treatment of ADHD, there are two drugs that are licensed to be used in the UK - stimulants and non-stimulants. Because they are the most established, stimulant meds are usually prescribed first. They work by increasing the activity of brain chemicals that help control attention and act. This includes methylphenidate which is known as Ritalin and amphetamine-based medicines such as lisdexamfetamine, or Elvanse. Stimulants can come in either long or short acting formulations that are referred to as immediate release and modified release respectively.
A non-stimulant drug that has recently been approved to treat ADHD is atomoxetine (Strattera). This medication can help with working memory and concentration issues and has already been proven to significantly reduce symptoms in adults.
However, there are people who are not interested in taking a medication and prefer alternative or natural remedies. There are many ways to help people overcome this issue, including psychoeducation as well as self-help strategies, coaching, and peer support groups. These are often paired with oral medications to maximize the effects.
It is crucial to remember that the use of supplements and alternative treatments should always be discussed with an GP prior to starting. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency declares that it is unlawful for any product to claim to treat ADHD in the absence of having been authorized in a proper manner.
The best way to begin the process of obtaining an ADHD diagnosis is to find an area psychiatrist who specializes in mental health and has experience of diagnosing adults suffering from ADHD. The doctor can provide you with a a formal diagnosis that you can use to prove your insurance eligibility or if you require to prove your condition in another way.
After you've been diagnosed, your psychiatrist can recommend a licensed UK medication to try. This will be overseen by a clinical professional like a psychiatric nurse. This process, known as titration, is the process of changing your medication at regular intervals to determine the appropriate dosage that minimizes your symptoms while remaining tolerable.
In this time it is essential to keep a clear line of communication with your psychiatrist. It is also important to be clear that at any point you can choose to stop the trial. Sadly, some neurodiverse communities can have unhelpful moralistic interpretations of the use of medications for ADHD. This could result in people being divided into "good people" who don't want medication and 'bad people' who need them to control their symptoms.
It is never an ideal idea to force anyone to take ADHD medication. Talk therapy can be a very efficient treatment for adults suffering from ADHD and should be the primary method of treatment, but it is not an answer to the problem and can only help you manage your symptoms and not change any longstanding negative ways of coping. However, medication is a very reliable and safe choice for the majority of people with ADHD. If you decide to take medication, it must be prescribed by a medical professional and should be based on your requirements.