Medication for ADHD - Research Paper Example

Methylphenidate is commonly used by ADHD patients for the stimulation of brain activity in areas concerned with attention and behavior. The drug is licensed for the use by children, however teenagers can as well use. The drug should be used in prescription by the doctor or specialist. However, the drugs has consequential side effects with the use. The drug is considered a nervous system stimulant that may cause a number of consequential conditions such as heart attack. In considerations of the whether to use the medication it is important to analyze its side effects.

Common side effects are not limited to the following. While using methylphenidate, it is important for the patient not to use MAO inhibitor within the past 14 days. MAO inhibitor are drugs such as linezolid, methylene blue injection tranylcyromine and rasagiline. The drug on the other hand may cause worsening of psychosis or unusual thoughts and behaviors is specificity to past cases of bipolar disorder, mental illness, or depression. The medication may as well result to problems in the blood circulation, pain, numbness, and discoloration of fingers and toes, leading to heart problems. The drug cannot be used by patients who have a history glaucoma, tourette’s syndrome, and severe tension, anxiety and agitation.

Dexamfetamine

This is as well a stimulant medication that works in a similar manner to methylphenidate. The drug stimulates areas of the brain that result to the control of attention and behavior. The drug can be used by children over the age of 3 years as well as teenagers. The common side effects of the drug are decreased appetite, mood swings, aggression and agitation tendencies, diarrhea, headaches, and dizziness.

Lisdexamfetamine

Lisdexamfetamine is a similar medication to dexamfetamine while it works in a similar manner. The drug is used by children with the ADHD condition who are over the ages of six. The treatment is most of the time used when the methylphenidate has not produced appropriate results. The patient may continue in the use of the drug into adulthood. The common side effects to the use of the drug are the decrease of appetite causing loss of weight, drowsiness, aggression, dizziness, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

Atomoxetine

This works differently as compared to the other ADHD medications. The drug is known as a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). The drug works by increasing the measure of the chemical noradrenaline in the brain. The chemical works by passing messages between cells of the brain. This causes the increase in concentration levels while it helps in control of impulses. The drug is prescribed for children and teenagers over the age of 6 years. The common side effects of the disease are vomiting and nausea, stomachaches, an increase in blood pressure of the patient, sleeping troubles, irritability, and headaches.

Guanfacine

This drug acts on a section of the brain to improve the attention levels, while also reducing the blood pressure of the patient. The drug is recommended for teenagers and children after all the other medication are ineffective or unsuitable. The common side effects of the drug are tiredness, fatigue, dry mouth, abdominal pains, and headaches.

Therapy

Different therapies have been recommended for the treatment of ADHD in children and teenagers. The therapy is effective for the treatment of additional problems like anxiety disorders that appear together with ADHD.

Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation implies that a child with ADHD is encouraged in discussion of the condition and its consequences. The education assists the children and teenagers develop sense on being diagnosed with the condition ADHD. Further the education on the condition will allow the patient be able to cope with it.

Behavioral therapy

The behavioral therapy informs and supports caretakers of the children with ADHD. The therapy involves teachers, parents as well as close relations. The study involves management of the condition using of a reward system in encouragement of the child to control the disease. Identification of what the child understands as rewards is a sure way to win the child’s behavior. For the teachers, behavior management involves the learning how to plan activities for the encouragement and praises the children for small progress.

To take or not to take ADHD medication

The medication provides assistance to children however it is a not a cure. Based on a survey on 934 parents with children suffering from ADHD, 84% of them turned to medication at some point. On the other hand, more than half of the children in the survey have used more than two types of the medication within a period of three years. Fundamentally, the research presented some worrying trends where the children who had the medication had severe symptoms as compared to those who have never tried any of the medications. Subsequently, the average age of the children who tried medication was 13 years while those who never tried the medication is 10 years.

Analysis of the drugs

The drugs prescribed are generally safe and effective, considerably 60-80 percent of the prescriptions result to lower hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Consequently, due to the drugs the children are less disruptive both at school and at home. In contrast, there is no evidence to show the benefits of the drug last more than two years. Fortunately, the children with those conditions improve as they reach their teenage years and adulthood even without medication. However, the condition may persist into adulthood for about 30% of the time. About all of the stimulants used in the treatment of ADHD cause the occurrence of cases of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke consequently children should be evaluated for the heart problems first before medication.

Is the medication helpful?

The man question at this phase is whether the medication is actually helpful in consideration with the side effects. In analysis of the symptoms, which one has more weight? A survey on parents who use medication presents considerable results. Parents who tried the use of methylphenidates or amphetamines reported positives changes in a few days. However, the second line of drugs took a little longer to work where positive results were reported after few weeks. About 10% of the parents who used the two drugs for children reported no positive change and had to seek a second opinion.

According to the parents surveyed, the children presented slightly better outcomes while on medication. While the parents cited the use of medication as a strategy to managing ADHD, they were not completely satisfied. Fundamentally, only 52% of the parents recommended the reuse of the medication. Subsequently 44% confirmed that they wished there was another way to manage the condition. 35% of the parents were particularly satisfied with school results and behavior at school. 26% were satisfied with behavior at home with regard to the use of medication. While some were happy with results on social skills and self-esteem at 19% and 18% respectively.

Argumentation

Medication is important for the child. The symptom of ADHD presents challenges to the normal growth of the child. Children deserve to have a descent education deviant of interruptions and problems. However the condition denies attention, poses the life of children at risk while having no social skills associated with being humans. The management of the condition to allow the child achieve the best in life is important. Notably the symptoms of the condition in more than 60% of cases weaken in their adult life. Fundamentally, the lack of management of the condition will deny the child of better future.

Though research shows that both children who have used medication and those not becoming better in their adult life. Medication allows the child to lead a health childhood. The side effects of the medication can be monitored to allow of the presentation of best results for the child. Different types of drugs can be tailored for the different patients with references to their past and current health status. The reasons for medication are for the reduction of effects of the symptoms while control on the side effects will produce better results. Reasonable ignorance of the use of medication based on side effects that could be managed will be denying children with ADHD a decent living.