Stimulants are the best and most common type of medication used to treat ADHD. There are only two stimulant medications, methylphenidate (the active ingredient in Ritalin, Concerta and other formulations) and amphetamine (the active ingredient in Adderall, Vyvanse and other formulations).
Modafinil is a strong nootropic and a wakefulness-promoting agent widely used to treat ADD and narcolepsy. Many people regard it as the best alternative to Adderall due to its effectiveness and safety. Modafinil boosts cognition, motivation levels and helps in maintaining focus for extended periods of time.
The most popular ADHD medications among ADDitude readers include (in alphabetical order): Adderall XR (amphetamine) Concerta (methylphenidate) Dexedrine (amphetamine)
Not everyone with ADHD needs medicine. But medicine can help most people with ADHD stay focused longer, listen better, and fidget less. People also benefit from therapy to learn and practice skills like staying organized, managing schoolwork, or dealing with stress.
People tend to think that Ritalin and Adderall help them to focus. And they do, in some sense. But what this study shows is that they do so, in part, by increasing your cognitive motivation. Your perceived benefits of performing a demanding task are elevated, while the perceived costs are reduced.
About half of them get the same benefit whether they take either Adderall or Concerta. The other half does better on one drug than the other. This is because they work on your brain in slightly different ways and can have different benefits and side effects.
ADHD specialists recommend methylphenidates as the first-choice medication for treating children and adolescents, and amphetamines as the first-choice medication for adults.
Ritalin and Adderall, two medications that treat ADHD, are equally effective but act differently. Adderall stays in your body longer than Ritalin, but Ritalin works more quickly to reach peak effect.
Prescription stimulants used as study drugs include: amphetamines like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Vyvanse. methylphenidates like Ritalin or Concerta.
Natural vitamin pills, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and Coenzyme Q10, can all contribute to improved concentration and cognitive function. Distractions, stress, and fatigue can all hinder your ability to concentrate.
Stimulant alternatives to Adderall include Ritalin, Concerta and Daytrana (methylphenidate); Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine); and Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine). Nonstimulant alternatives to Adderall include Strattera (atomoxetine), Intuniv (Guanfacine) and Kapvay (clonidine).
Concerta and Ritalin share the same active ingredient. However, Ritalin is a short-acting stimulant that boosts focus and attention quickly. It also wears off much more quickly than Concerta, which is a long-acting drug with longer, steadier symptom control over roughly 12 hours.
Methylphenidate is the most commonly used medicine for ADHD. It belongs to a group of medicines called stimulants, which work by increasing activity in the brain, particularly in areas that play a part in controlling attention and behaviour.
The most commonly used nonstimulant medication, Atomoxetine (Strattera), is a norepinephrine modulator, as is a new medication called Viloxazine (Qelbree). The other two commonly used nonstimulant medications for ADHD,Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay) and Guanfacine (Tenex, Intuniv) are alpha agonists. Dr.
All stimulants work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain— dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, movement, and attention. The therapeutic effect of stimulants is achieved by slow and steady increases of dopamine, which are similar to the way dopamine is naturally produced in the brain.
The most common side effects of the medication include headache, abdominal pain, insomnia, decreased appetite, nervousness and dizziness. But the drug can also cause serious side effects that range from drug dependence to growth suppression to psychiatric problems.