| In this third of a series of articles on ADD we're going | | | | system. What they do is stimulate various areas of |
| to focus on treatments for ADD besides simple | | | | the brain to be more active, actually the reverse of a |
| nutrition. | | | | sedative. By being more active, concentration and |
| The most common form of treatment for ADD is | | | | attention are improved. This medication helps circuits |
| through medication. | | | | stay on when they're supposed to be on. |
| The underlying theory on ADD is that it is caused by a | | | | The most common medication for ADD is Ritalin, |
| chemical imbalance in the brain. Through certain | | | | which is a psychostimulant. The drug appears to work |
| medications we can correct that imbalance and help a | | | | very well in treating ADD. However, it has gotten a lot |
| person with ADD to live a normal and productive life. | | | | of bad press even though it is relatively safe and very |
| PET scans of patients with ADD who are taking | | | | effective. Should Ritalin not work other drugs may be |
| medication for their condition show that there is | | | | used like antidepressants and beta blockers. These |
| significant improvement in many cases. | | | | have both been shown to be very effective for |
| Medication that is given to treat ADD is to stimulate | | | | certain patients. |
| the production of two neurotransmitters known as | | | | Other drugs that have been used to treat ADD are |
| dopamine and norephinephrine. These | | | | Dexedrine, Desoxyn, Adderall, and Cylert, which are all |
| neurotransmitters are needed to carry a nerve impulse | | | | stimulant drugs like Ritalin. The most common |
| along a neuropathway. When one of these | | | | antidepressants are Desiprimine, Anafranil, Elavil, |
| transmitters is under supplied the message is stopped | | | | Tofranil, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. Then there |
| short of it's intended destination. When this happens, | | | | are neuroleptics which were developed to treat |
| whatever function that circuit is assigned to doesn't | | | | serious mental disorders like psychosis and |
| work properly. | | | | schizophrenia. In patients with severe ADD symptoms |
| Your brain circuits are like a computer circuit. They are | | | | these have been very effective treatments. The most |
| either on or off. When a circuit is on it makes | | | | common of these drugs is Haldol and Mellaril. However |
| something happen, like helping a child concentrate on a | | | | the AMA cautions that these drugs should only be |
| math problem or read a passage from a novel. When | | | | used in the most severe cases of ADD. Then you |
| other circuits are on they prevent something from | | | | have mood stabilizers which are lithium based drugs |
| happening. For instance, some circuits prevent a child | | | | that are very effective in certain cases in calming a |
| from becoming over emotional about an event or | | | | child down. |
| situation. If this circuit is supposed to be on but isn't | | | | The number of drugs to treat ADD is numerous and |
| because the transmitter didn't work then the child ends | | | | growing everyday. With proper diagnosis and testing it |
| up getting upset where a child without ADD would | | | | is relatively easy to find the right drug for treating the |
| have remained calm. | | | | disorder in each case. |
| Medicines that treat ADD are not sedatives or | | | | In the next article we'll discuss other treatments for |
| tranquilizers. They don't slow down the nervous | | | | ADD. |