However, they are all stimulants from the Methylphenidate family. One of the reasons why ADHD medication gets confusing is that whenever a drug company makes a drug using a different format, either the way it’s consumed (capsule, tablet, etc.) or how its released (short or long acting, etc.), they are required to give it a different name. Ritalin and Concerta come from Methylphenidate.Adderall and Dexedrine come from Dextro-amphetamine.The two main types of stimulant medications are:Īll brand name ADHD drugs available derive from them. In addition, they act by blocking dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, so there is more of the neurotransmitter in the synapse. The important neurotransmitters for ADHD are norepinephrine and dopamine because they are responsible for attention and activity.ĪDHD medication stimulate (hence their name!) certain brain cells to make more of the neurotransmitters they were missing for optimum brain function. The brain has hundreds of different neurotransmitters and they help with everything from sleep, heart rate to fear and anxiety, to mood and temperature. Neurotransmitters are like postmen or women who deliver messages between neurons. ADHD problems stem from the deficiency of neurotransmitters in certain parts of the brain. However, if we remember that ADHD is a neurological condition, it makes more sense. It might sound counter intuitive for a person who has ADHD to take a stimulant. As a result, they are the most prescribed medication and the most studied. Stimulant medications are the most effective medication for treating ADHD. However, if they aren’t effective or they can’t be prescribed because of another medical condition, then non-stimulants and antidepressants can be prescribed. When thinking about ADHD Meds, stimulants are the ones that automatically spring to mind.
There are 3 types of medication that can be prescribed to help ADHD: Stimulants, non-stimulants and antidepressants. I talk a lot about the non-pharmaceutical treatments on this blog however this article is about prescribed medication. Rather there are prongs of treatment that when combined can help manage the unwanted aspects of ADHD.
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