Treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder
 Although stimulants are often used as treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder, aka ADD, some patients may opt to use non-stimulant medication. Non-stimulant drugs were the first approved treatment for ADD in adults, but they are considered less effective than psychostimulants. Non-stimulant medications stimulate the production of a certain neurotransmitter known as norepinephrine, which is the chemical in the brain that transmits nerve impulses.
Non-stimulant drugs increase the amount of norepinephrine in the brain, which helps increase the ADHD sufferer’s attention span and decreases their hyperactivity. These drugs are not a controlled substance, which typically means users are not as likely to become addicted. Still there are other side effects such as stomach aches, a loss of appetite, mood swings, and nausea that can affect ADHD sufferers. If these become severe, patients are often asked to stop taking this treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder.
While some patients prefer to take non-stimulant drugs instead of stimulant drugs to treat their ADD, there are other patients who should stay away from non-stimulants all together. Those people include anyone who suffers from glaucoma and those taking a type of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Anyone who is pregnant or breast feeding; taking or planning on taking dietary supplements; has a history of heart disease, seizures, liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, or any other serious medical problem should consult their physician before they consider taking non-stimulant drugs as treatment for ADD.
|
