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October 19, 2006
Which ADHD Medications Work Best & Why
At SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, researchers conducted 2 separate studies to help doctors better understand ADHD and the best way to treat it.
In the first study, they performed a meta-analysis test, involving 29 prior studies on ADHD medications to determine which of the medications is most effective in reducing ADHD symptoms. Most stimulant medications known as methylphenidates, such as Ritalin, worked better than non-stimulant drugs and novel stimulants such as modafinil.
In the second study, performed by Philadelphia investigators, helped to explain why stimulants work better than non-stimulants for ADHD. When the effects of Ritalin were studied, they found the drug helps focus one’s attention by raising norepinephrine, a substance in the brain that helps in concentration. While at the same time, it suppresses nerve signal transmissions in the sensory pathways, which helps the user block out extraneous stimuli.
ADHD can be diagnosed before a child is 7 years old, but can persist well into adulthood. Now, statistics show up to 8 million adults are still suffering from some of the typical symptoms of ADHD. Adults that have ADHD are two times more likely to be arrested, twice as likely to have trouble holding a job and twice as likely to be divorced.
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By: Margo Richter
SOURCE: 2006 American Psychiatric Association meeting, May 20-25, 2006, Toronto, and Journal of Neurophysiology, published online May 30, 2006
Posted by margo1 at October 19, 2006 12:01 PM
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