ADD/ADHD Drug Guide - Part 1

Whether we like it or not, pharmacology (the prescribing of medication) seems to be the first choice of professionals when faced with treating a child or adult with ADD/ADHD.

ADD/ADHD is believed to be a malfunction of the dopamine transmitter system in the brain. These transmitters are responsible for the reuptake of dopamine from the synaptic gap into the nerve cells. If the number of transmitters is too high, then the available dopamine is in short supply, and voila, ADD/ADHD symptoms appear! The drugs used by physicians are thought to target the dopamine system of the brain to alleviate symptoms.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to attempt to explain the different types of ADD/ADHD medications and how they are thought to work. In addition, you will begin to see that much of the hype surrounding these drugs has been produced by the drug companies that manufacture them. More hype equals better sales!

You need to understand and be aware that the pharmacology business is huge and the profits are staggering. While the argument can certainly be made that the drugs are beneficial for those suffering form ADD/ADHD, it is up to you to be a smart consumer. Educate yourself about these drugs before you buy into the drug company’s testimonials.

Let’s first review the 3 types of ADHD.

§ Inattentive Only: This sufferer cannot pay attention, but is completely capable of sitting still and not causing disruption. This used to be known as ADD.

§ Hyperactive/Impulsive: This is the person who can pay attention and focus, but cannot sit still no matter what! He might be impulsive, blurting out answers before called on, for example. Impulsivity is usually manifested by acting without thinking first about the consequences.

§ Combined Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive: This is the most commonly diagnosed of the three kinds, and as you can see, it includes all of the symptoms.

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No two people experience the effects of these medications the same. That is because the symptoms vary from person to person and in their severity. It is ultimately up to you, as a parent, or you as the adult ADHDer, to determine whether you want these substances in your body. What I want to do here is to educate you thoroughly about the drugs used to treat ADD/ADHD so that you can make an informed choice about your decision to either medicate or not. If there are alternatives to medication, though, don’t you thin k you owe it to yourself to find out all you can about prescription drugs versus other alternative treatments?