ADHD Treatments

Treatments

Lots of different treatments are available

ADHD can respond well to treatment and the good news is there are many different treatments available.

Your GP or specialist will work out the best method of treatment for you based on your symptoms and other details.

Current treatments for ADHD include behavioral treatments and some medications - have a look below to find out more...

Behavioral treatments

There are a range of behavioral treatments which you might be asked to try out. They may work better for some people than for others, and so different people with ADHD will have different treatments. Some are listed below:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • A specialist will work with you alone or in a group and guide you on ways to control your behavior, and help you learn how best to deal with situations which you may find difficult.
• Parent training

  • This helps your parents understand your condition and also how they can help you to control your moods and temper.
• Social skills therapy

  • This is normally in groups and will teach you how to deal with social situations.
• Anger control and management therapy

  • This can also be in a group or one-to-one and teaches you how to express yourself without getting angry or having an angry outburst.

Medications

Medications do not cure ADHD, but they can help you control the main symptoms - inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

There are two different classes of medication available for the treatment of ADHD, stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants work quicker, but non-stimulants don't need to be taken as often. Your doctor will discuss with you if they think medication is required and will select the one that they think will be most suitable for you.

Discuss any side effects with your doctor

Medication can work very well for people with ADHD, but like all medications there may be some side effects.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet of your medicine. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of your medicine.

For a full list of possible side effects, please speak to a health professional.