You know a prescription drug is widely abused when it becomes the main character in recent movies! A is for Adderall is a documentary in production about the off-prescription use of that popular <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd">ADHD (attention deficient hyperactivity disorder)</a> medication. The producers filmed the teaser at the University of Wisconsin Madison (&ldquo;It&rsquo;s so available; it&rsquo;s everywhere,&rdquo; says one student.) And it&rsquo;s the star of the 2015 James Franco film, The Adderall Diaries, about a burned-out, drugged-up writer.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/cns-stimulant/know-adderall-xr-before-taking">Adderall</a>, or dextroamphetamine-amphetamine, is often used to help those with ADHD become calmer and more focused, as is methylphenidate (brand names&mdash;Ritalin, Daytrana and Concerta). But from 2006 to 2011, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins, nonmedical use of these meds among adults (especially 18- to 25-year-olds) went up by 67 percent and emergency-room-related visits increased almost 156 percent.

What&rsquo;s the allure? They make it easier to study all night, plus they boost feel-good brain chemicals dopamine and decrease in the ability to concentrate. These meds also mask the affects of alcohol, making it all-too-easy to suffer <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/poisoning/what-is-alcohol-poisoning">alcohol poisoning</a>.

Unfortunately, young adults seem unaware of the risks&mdash;or the tough time they&rsquo;re going to have getting off the drugs. Experts&mdash;and we agree&mdash;are calling for the same aggressive oversight of these prescription meds that&rsquo;s proposed for opioids/pain relievers. And anyone using them without an Rx needs to reach out to abuse treatment experts for help getting off them&mdash;it&rsquo;s hard to do it by yourself.

Medically reviewed in October 2018.

Adderall Abuse: A Growing Risk for Young Adults

ADHD often reveals itself first at school. In this video, Dr. Oz discusses signs of ADHD and how to look for them.

ADHD in the Classroom

In this video, Dr. Oz outlines five lifestyle changes that support healthy and productive living for children with ADHD.

ADHD Lifestyle Changes

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder can make it difficult for a child to stay focused in school. In this video, Dr. Oz outlines five techniques parents can use to help their kids cope with the struggles of ADHD and put them on a path to success.

How to Set Up Your Child with ADHD for Success in School

It&rsquo;s easy to feel overwhelmed while caring for a child diagnosed with ADHD. That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s important for parents to take time out for themselves. Watch as Dr. Oz outlines five ways parents can empower themselves while helping their children succeed.

Taking Care of Yourself (While Also Taking Care of Your Child with ADHD)

Your 7-Step Plan for Managing ADHD

Discover the positive traits linked to ADHD and how to use them to your advantage.

The Bright Side of ADHD

What research says about food and child ADHD symptoms.

Can Healthy Eating Help with Child ADHD?

Having ADHD does not mean you have to live a chaotic life.&nbsp;

Getting Organized with ADHD

Impact of ADHD on 5 Key Areas of Adult Life

By now you&#39;re probably aware that your child&#39;s ADHD can&#39;t be cured. But with your help, it can be effectively managed. One of the most important things you can do is to work closely with her doctor and teachers to steer her toward a treatment approach that best helps her grow and mature and achieve success in school and in personal relationships. Treatment for childhood ADHD may involve medication, behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two.

As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else, so the feedback you can give your doctor about how your child is doing is incredibly valuable -- as is your ability to advocate for her to get the appropriate support and treatment she needs. For these reasons, continual communication and regular checkups with your child&#39;s doctor are essential. Your ongoing goal is to make sure your child is getting the most appropriate and effective help, so she can grow and thrive in all areas of life, despite challenges she may encounter because of ADHD.

Regular checkups will help you and your child&#39;s doctor evaluate how well treatment is managing and minimizing your child&#39;s ADHD symptoms. If medication is prescribed, it&#39;s possible your child may need to try a few different kinds before finding one that is effective and produces minimal side effects. As children with ADHD grow up, their treatment needs can change. Sticking to the regular checkup routine will help ensure that your child&#39;s treatment will continue to be tailored to her potentially changing needs.

Establish a Relationship Between Doctor and Teacher 
You might consider yourself the absolute expert on your child, but her teacher also has unique insight into how well your child is doing on a daily basis -- academically and socially -- and how much ADHD is affecting her progress. Opening up the lines of communication between your child&#39;s teacher and her doctor can add another valuable layer of information, which will help better inform the doctor&#39;s treatment recommendations for your child. (<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/adhd-kids-school">Check out this article for specific tips on helping your child succeed in grade school with ADHD.</a>)

Getting the Most from Appointments 
Your primary role at your child&#39;s checkups is to convey as much as possible about how she&#39;s doing, including any changes you&#39;ve noticed in her behavior, whether positive or negative. You should also be prepared to give a status report on your child&#39;s school performance, if your child&#39;s teacher has not already done so.

The more you can tell your doctor about how your child is doing and how her treatment seems to be working, the more effectively your doctor can adjust treatment to best manage your child&#39;s symptoms. And don&#39;t rely on only your memory. Be sure to take notes on your child&#39;s overall daily behavior. Also jot down any questions you have for the doctor, so you remember to ask them at your next appointment. Checkups tend to be brief, and it can be hard to process all the info you doctor is quickly conveying without important details escaping. Taking another family member along to have a second set of ears can be helpful. You may also be able to record your discussion with the doctor; just be sure to first ask if it&#39;s okay.

Other Important Things to Mention 
Let the doctor know about any other changes in your child&#39;s health or her life, like new friends or activities, that could be affecting her behavior. Whenever changes to your child&#39;s medication regimen are recommended or new medications are prescribed, make sure you ask about any potential new side effects.

Help for Parents 
Parent-training programs are available and are designed to help you adjust your parenting approach to better suit your child&#39;s special needs. These courses can help you feel more knowledgeable and empowered and, ultimately, more in control of a challenging situation.

Talking with Your Child's Doctor

Somehow, the more we know about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the more myths about ADHD seem to arise. And everyone from friends and neighbors to Hollywood celebrities has something to say about it. With all that chatter, it can be hard to separate facts about ADHD from fiction. Get the straight facts with this list of myths about ADHD.&nbsp;

Myth #1: Only kids have ADHD. 
It&#39;s true that about 1 in 10 kids under the age of 17 has ADHD. But about 4&nbsp;percent&nbsp;of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/symptoms-of-adhd-in-adults">adults have ADHD</a>, too. And, in fact, many cases of adult ADHD are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, in part because people think it&#39;s only a childhood condition.&nbsp;

Myth #2: All kids &quot;outgrow&quot; ADHD. 
Not always. Up to 80&nbsp;percent&nbsp;of children with ADHD have symptoms in adolescence. And for up to 70&nbsp;percent&nbsp;of those kids, ADHD symptoms continue to cause problems in adulthood&mdash;such as relationship difficulties, money troubles, work strife and a rocky family life.&nbsp;

Myth #3: Medication is the only treatment for ADHD. 
Medication can be useful in managing ADHD symptoms, but it&#39;s not a cure. And it&#39;s not the only focus of treatment. Lifestyle changes, counseling, and behavior modification can significantly improve symptoms as well. Several studies suggest that using a combination of strategies to treat ADHD works best.&nbsp;

Myth #4: People who have ADHD are lazy, and they lack intelligence and willpower. 
Simply not true. In fact, ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence or determination. ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder caused by alterations in brain chemicals and changes in the way the brain works. It presents unique challenges, but they can be overcome. And ADHD doesn&#39;t have to get in the way of success. Many successful people have managed the condition. Even Albert Einstein is said to have had symptoms of ADHD.&nbsp;

Myth #5: ADHD isn&#39;t a real disorder. 
Not so. Doctors and mental-health professionals agree that ADHD is a real biological disorder that can significantly impair functioning in people who have it. ADHD is caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals, which affects certain brain areas that regulate behavior and emotion. This altered brain function produces ADHD symptoms.&nbsp;

Myth #6: Bad parenting causes ADHD. 
Absolutely not! A combination of genetic and environmental factors causes ADHD. Good parenting skills can <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/adhd-advice-for-parents">help children deal with ADHD symptoms</a>, but parenting choices don&rsquo;t cause ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms are caused by&nbsp;brain chemical&nbsp;imbalances that make it hard to pay attention and control impulses.&nbsp;

Myth #7: Kids with ADHD are always hyper. 
Not always. ADHD comes in three &quot;flavors&quot;&mdash;the predominantly inattentive type, the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type and the combined type, which is a mix of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Although kids with hyperactive-impulsive or combined ADHD may be fidgety and restless, kids with inattentive ADHD are not.&nbsp;

Myth #8: Too much TV time causes ADHD. 
A combination of genes and environmental factors causes ADHD, not habits. That said, spending excessive amounts of time watching TV or spending too many hours playing video games could trigger the condition in susceptible individuals. And in kids and teens who already have ADHD, excess screen time may make symptoms worse.&nbsp;

Myth #9: If you can focus on certain things, you don&#39;t have ADHD. 
It&#39;s not that simple. Although it&#39;s true that people with ADHD have trouble focusing on things that don&#39;t interest them, there&#39;s a flip side to the disorder. Some people with ADHD get overly absorbed in activities they enjoy&mdash;called &quot;hyperfocus.&quot;&nbsp;Hyperfocus&nbsp;can help you be more productive in activities that you like. But you could also become so focused that you ignore responsibilities you don&#39;t like.&nbsp;

Myth #10: ADHD is&nbsp;overdiagnosed. 
If anything, ADHD is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Many children with ADHD grow up to be adults with ADHD. The pressures and responsibilities of adulthood often exacerbate ADHD symptoms, leading adults to seek evaluation and diagnosis for the first time. Also, parents who have children with ADHD may seek treatment only after recognizing similar symptoms in themselves.&nbsp;

Top 10 Myths About ADHD

Matthew, an active 7-year-old, and his mother, Judy, came to see me. From the moment Judy began talking, I noticed tears welling up in her eyes.

&quot;Matthew&#39;s school evaluated him for attention problems and asked me to talk with you about their findings,&quot; she said, handing me the school&#39;s assessment report. &quot;His teacher mentioned that he might need to take medication. That really worries me because of all I&#39;ve heard about the overmedication of children these days. I don&#39;t want to put him on drugs if it&#39;s not absolutely necessary.&quot;

The report listed all the tests given to Matthew to assess his behavior and determine how it might affect his performance in school. His score on the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) showed he was borderline ADHD. Also included in the packet was Matthew&#39;s report card.

&quot;It looks like he&#39;s having some difficulty,&quot; I said.

Judy confirmed that he was struggling academically, which she suspected was due, at least in part, to the fact that he can&#39;t sit still. &quot;If he&#39;s not up to sharpen his pencil, he&#39;s rummaging through his backpack. He&#39;ll return to his seat if asked, but in a few minutes, he&#39;s up again. And he&#39;s always talking -- to a classmate, to himself, to someone passing in the hallway. If he thinks he knows the answer to a question, he just blurts it out.&quot;

After ruling out other causes for his fidgety, impulsive behavior, Matthew fit the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/what-is-adhd-in-children">profile of a child with ADHD</a>. But I wasn&#39;t convinced that medication alone would be the best step in treating him. Although it&#39;s often effective, I find medication works best when paired with behavior modification.

Because his lack of focus and inability to sit still were having a serious impact on his schoolwork, I suggested that Judy talk further with his teacher and the school psychologist. Together, we could <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/best-way-to-handle-adhd-in-young-kids">develop a program</a> that would be geared specifically to the problems Matthew faced. The plan needed to include plenty of positive reinforcement, but with consistent consequences, too -- and strong follow-through at home so Matthew was always sure what was expected of him.

With any kind of reward system, it&#39;s important to discuss the ultimate goal and explain that it&#39;s about success, not failure, and about rewards, not punishment. Using a chart provides a visible way of tracking progress. When a child sees that he has some control over his world, and receives positive reinforcement, his ability to succeed improves.

The basic plan for Matthew is one that can be helpful for many children. Just alter it to fit specific behavior problems and goals.

A Mother's Concern About ADHD

Closing the book on summer break and heading back to school can be a struggle for any child. But back-to-school time can be particularly stressful for kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), says <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-charan-k-cheema">Charan Cheema, DO</a>, a family medicine specialist at <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/group/saint-joseph-mercy-health-system">Saint Joseph Mercy Health System</a> in Saline, Michigan.

Why is it so important to start on the right foot? Doing so can mean the difference between a year filled with good grades and social success versus a year of anguish, poor school performance, and behavioral problems. Here are eight ways parents of kids with ADHD can help ensure a <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/kids-teens-health/article/ways-help-child-school-stress">smooth and successful transition to school</a>&mdash;and help them stay on track all year long.

Set up a calendar 
At the start of school, your child may be making resolutions that this is the year they&rsquo;ll get&mdash;and stay&mdash;organized. Several well-thought-out calendars can help them get there.

Look for one organizer that is large enough for them to write down all their assignments, plus a second one where they can log after-school programs and events, along with social activities like parties or playdates, advises Cheema.

Kids who are old enough to have their own smartphones or tablets may also benefit from a digital calendar, since these offer reminders and pop-up notifications. Have your child share their digital calendar with you to keep you in the loop.

Create an &lsquo;out-the-door&rsquo; checklist 
You probably know that a clear, rigid morning routine is crucial to helping your <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/slideshow/adhd-facts-all-parents-should-know">kid with ADHD</a> make it to the bus on time. And it goes without saying that a morning spent searching for lost socks, homework, and lunch boxes can make anyone crabby.

That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s a good idea to have a checklist your child can use to itemize tasks like making their bed, getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing their teeth, and gathering their homework and lunch box before they head out the door, says Cheema.

Make sure you have backups at the ready, like hats, mittens, or pairs of shoes. These have a tendency to mysteriously disappear in households, so having extras will help guarantee you and your kid keep moving forward.

Touch base with your teacher 
If your child has ADHD, you may already have an IEP (individualized education program), a written plan of goals and accommodations that help ensure a student makes progress. But there are other strategies you can employ to help make sure your child&rsquo;s doing okay.

A communication binder that goes between school and home will allow you and your child&rsquo;s teacher to share notes about daily behavior and progress, explains Cheema. This sort of regular contact also helps make sure the teacher is following through on needed accommodations, like giving your child breaks or extra time to complete their work.

Teachers can also seat your child in a part of the classroom where they&rsquo;re least likely to get distracted, like up in front. If your child is older (say, middle or high school), consider asking if they can record lectures on their smartphone. This way, they can re-listen at their own pace and review any missed information at home.

Create a set homework routine 
Kids with ADHD thrive on consistency, so it often helps to start and finish homework at the same time and place every evening, advises Cheema. Choose a part of your home that&rsquo;s relatively distraction-free, and ideally somewhere where you can easily keep an eye on your child.

Allow frequent breaks, and imbue those breaks with a reward. For example, after finishing their spelling worksheet, let your child have a five-minute break to grab a snack and run around for a few moments. Make sure you offer positive reinforcement. Anytime they notch a success&mdash;even something small like sitting down at the table voluntarily to do their homework&mdash;praise them and explain exactly what they did well. Ignore negative behaviors, like whining.

You can also reward kids once homework is completely done by letting them play on their tablet or going outside. If they have a lot of trouble concentrating, you might try using a white noise machine or the sounds available from a relaxation program like Sharecare Windows (available on the Sharecare app for&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sharecare/id964313779?mt=8" target="_blank">iOS</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sharecare.realgreen&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a>). Sounds like rainfall, waves, and soothing music may help maintain attention. Of course, if these add stress or distraction, it&rsquo;s best to set them aside.

Carve out time for exercise 
<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/types-exercise/article/health-experts-urge-move-more-sit-less">Physical activity</a> is important for all kids but may be especially valuable for those with ADHD. Some studies suggest that regular exercise can improve attention, behavior, and motor control in young people with ADHD. The research isn&rsquo;t yet definitive, but getting exercise is pretty low-risk, so it may be worth a try to work movement into your child&rsquo;s afternoon routine.

Just remember that structured team sports can be challenging for some kids with ADHD, since they may have trouble following multi-step directions and/or coordination, points out Cheema. Other options include running, swimming, marital arts, or even just going on a family walk.

Help them stay focused 
It can be hard for a child with ADHD to figure out which assignments take priority. You can make it easier for them by ensuring they have an assignment notebook to help organize their work.

Another good idea: color code everything. Colored folders can help your child organize work for different subjects like reading, math and writing, while highlighters will help them rank assignments by priority level. For example, use red to indicate a task due the next day, yellow for one due later in the week, and green for longer-term projects.

Clutter can also get in the way of staying organized, so it&rsquo;s a good idea to do a clean sweep of backpacks, desks, and workspaces on a regular basis.

Set up some play dates 
Establishing and maintaining friendships can be tough for kids with ADHD, since they often struggle with social skills. If your child has trouble making and keeping friends, setting up some structured play dates&mdash;where you can prep in advance for what&rsquo;s expected&mdash;can help ease anxiety. Try to organize some outings with another child in class as early in the year as possible, and ideally before the first day of school.

&ldquo;It can be easier those first few days if there&rsquo;s a familiar face there with them,&rdquo; says Cheema.

Ease back into medication 
Some kids with ADHD take a &ldquo;drug holiday&rdquo; over the summer, especially if they&rsquo;re experiencing side effects such as weight loss from decreased appetite due to stimulant meds. While most of these drugs have an immediate effect, it&rsquo;s a good idea to start kids back on their regular dosage about a week before school resumes, says Cheema. This way, they have a chance to get used to the medication before the first day of class.

After that, you can follow your kids closely and speak to your physician about tweaking dosage as needed. Some kids may also need a &ldquo;booster&rdquo; dose after the school day to help them get through homework and after-school activities&mdash;and set them up for a successful next day.

Medically reviewed in June 2019.

8 Tips for Going Back to School With ADHD

In one episode of The Simpsons, Principle Skinner calls in Marge and Homer to discuss Bart&rsquo;s disruptive behavior that, he said, was fueled by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A pretty accurate diagnosis. In fact, when Matt Groening created Bart, he made his behaviors so textbook ADHD that two University of Central Oklahoma students created a YouTube documentary about the lad to explain the condition to their psychology class.

A person with ADHD sometimes can&rsquo;t concentrate long enough to complete a given task (attention deficit) and may display restlessness and compulsive behavior (hyperactivity). Medications such as Adderall (an amphetamine) or Ritalin (methylphenidate) are often helpful, especially for kids. However, many <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/living-with-adult-adhd">adults with ADHD</a> look for non-pharmacological ways to control the condition. Some alternatives:

<ul>
	<li>Research shows weekly group <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd-treatment/how-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-adhd">cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)</a> sessions focusing on strategies for planning actions, improving time management and easing stress responses are effective. For an ADHD CBT group near you, go to <a href="http://www.chadd.org" target="_blank">www.chadd.org</a>.</li>
	<li>One study indicates changing light exposure and sleep patterns might ease <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/article/symptoms-of-adhd-in-adults">ADHD symptoms</a>: In 75 percent of ADHD patients, onset of the physiological sleep phase (in which there are changes in the level of the sleep hormone melatonin and sleep-related movements) is delayed by 90 minutes&mdash;triggering all kinds of behavioral reactions. For a sleep clinic near you, go to www.sleepeducation.org/find-a-facility.</li>
	<li>One study&rsquo;s preliminary findings indicate that moderate doses of commercially available whole green coffee powder can improve sustained attention and working memory for folks 18 to 25, and may be helpful for those with ADHD.</li>
</ul>

Managing ADHD With CBT, Sleep Therapy and More

Headlines often suggest that daydreaming is a sign of brilliance. As a young man, Einstein was accused of daydreaming, and according to a study published in Neurophychologia, &ldquo;&hellip;mind wandering positively correlated with fluid intelligence and creativity.&rdquo; But really, how many daydreamers are Einsteins, Mozarts or even one of The Monkees? So, let&rsquo;s backup a few steps and figure out&hellip; &ldquo;Oh, what can it mean?&rdquo;

The study points out that if your child can&rsquo;t seem to keep his or her mind on something for an extended period of time, it may not stem from an attention deficit problem and in &ldquo;certain instances&hellip; mind wandering may not be inherently harmful.&rdquo;

That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s important to have a trained professional make an evaluation.

<ul>
	<li>It&rsquo;s possible daydreaming is a sign your child isn&rsquo;t getting the stimulation he or she needs to stay involved in learning. Discovering what level of instruction in school will engage a child can transform his or her future. The National Association for Gifted Children can guide you towards testing at www.nagc.org.</li>
	<li>Evaluation may also reveal that your child has <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/what-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder">ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)</a>&mdash;and that&rsquo;s also info you want. Left undiagnosed and untreated, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/add-adhd/what-negative-effects-children-adhd">ADHD can cause intellectual, social and emotional problems</a> that persist for a lifetime. Find an evaluation professional through Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder at www.chadd.org. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

So, stop monkeying around and discover if your daydreamer is the next Einstein, just bored or has ADHD. Finding out and treating the situation appropriately will make you say, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a Believer.&rdquo;

Is Your Child a Daydreamer or Do They Have ADHD?

Staying focused in today&#39;s highly distracting, multitasking world is a challenge for most adults, but for grownups living with ADHD it can be especially difficult. One of the worst culprits? Electronics. From cell phones to Facebook and the Internet to Wii, our lives are crowded with attention-stealing digital devices. Can powering them down help adults with ADHD stay more focused? No one knows for sure, but minimizing digital distractions makes sense, and it certainly can&#39;t hurt to try. Ask your loved one with ADHD to consider these strategies, or try them yourself:

<ul>
	<li>Silence your ringer. Unless your job requires otherwise, silence your cell phone or leave it in the car while at work - especially when completing complex projects that demand your focused, uninterrupted attention. Check messages and return calls only during breaks or, if you must leave your cell on, answer only emergency calls and let the rest go to voicemail.</li>
	<li>Kick the Facebook habit. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have become national addictions. Don&#39;t let social media distract you from your work. Solution: Make it a rule to log in during work breaks or at home only.</li>
	<li>Minimize email interruptions. Constant incoming emails and instant messages can interrupt you all day long, and refocusing your attention isn&#39;t so easy. Even if email is part of your job, turn it off, if possible, for large chunks of time each day so you can work without distraction. Designate times -- perhaps in the morning, midday and before you leave the office -- to reply to emails.</li>
</ul>

Diminish Digital Distractions

Up to 90% of ADHD sufferers experience improvement by taking medication. But ADHD medication is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. The treatment that&#39;s right for you will depend on factors such as your age, your symptoms, your medical history, and your tolerance for side effects.

Two main categories of ADHD medication are available&mdash;stimulant and nonstimulant. You should discuss the risks and benefits of each of these treatment options for ADHD with your doctor.

Stimulants 
Psychostimulants:&nbsp;These medications&mdash;which include methylphenidate, dexmethylphenidate, and amphetamines -- are the most common kind of ADHD medication. They help ADHD sufferers feel calm by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine&nbsp;in the brain. These medicines can also improve concentration and focus and decrease impulsivity. Stimulants are available in both short- and long-acting forms.

Nonstimulants 
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors:&nbsp;This type of medication works by increasing brain levels of norepinephrine, a chemical that&#39;s in short supply in people who have ADHD. The increase in norepinephrine improves attention span and reduces impulsivity and hyperactivity.

Antidepressants:&nbsp;These medications, which include tricyclics, SSRIs and other antidepressants, alter brains levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. While they are rarely used alone to treat ADHD, they are sometimes used to treat children who have another problem along with ADHD, such as anxiety or depression.

Older antihypertensives: Certain medications originally developed for the treatment of high blood pressure may help. Some old-school drugs, which are now rarely used to manage hypertension, are still prescribed to treat ADHD. In fact, one older high blood pressure drug, called clonidine, was later approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a non-stimulant treatment for children with ADHD. Antihypertensives may improve cognitive function, decrease impulsivity and help control other undesired behaviors in people with ADHD&mdash;possibly by increasing brain levels of norepinephrine.

Research the Side Effects 
Each type of ADHD medication comes with its own unique set of potential side effects. Some of these side effects may be mild, while others could prove dangerous. So it&#39;s important to discuss with your child&#39;s doctor the risks and the benefits of any medication you&#39;re considering. The more information you have, the better equipped you&#39;ll be to make an informed decision for your child and to spot any problems moving forward.

ADD/ADHD