Know Your BrainADHD Medications
Everyone’s brain works in it’s own unique way, which gives us our own unique set of talents and challenges. While people with ADHD may struggle with sustaining focus or attention, they also may have admirable qualities such as creativity, humor, courage, and improvisational skills.
Our understanding is that ADHD mostly determined by genetics and is caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain (dopamine and norepinephrine). Stimulant medications can help with this imbalance and are considered the first-line treatment for bothersome ADHD symptoms because of their record of safety and efficacy (1. AAP). Some of these bothersome symptoms may include distractibility, organization, memory and managing emotions. Approximately three quarters of children and adolescents will respond well to medications, but the degree to which it works varies with each individual (2. APA and AACAP).
There are approximately 30 ADHD medications on the market right now, and choosing which one is best for you is a collaborative process with you and your medication provider. We don’t know how anyone will respond to different medications until they try it. Aspects like height, weight, metabolism, genetic testing, and severity of symptoms can not predict which medication works the best for each individual person. Just like having a prescription for eyeglasses, everyone has the prescription that works for their own individual needs. Taking medication for ADHD doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with someone’s brain, it just means that they understand what their unique brain needs to function at its best.
Citations:
1. American Academy of Pediatrics
2. The American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry