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