Safest Adult ADHD Medicines

Attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) disorder is found in approximately 4 percent of the adult population in the U.S. More than 60 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD see symptoms continue into adulthood. ADHD can be a lifetime problem, but there is hope. Medications and treatments have continued to evolve, and safer options have developed. If you're an adult with ADHD, learn the safest choices for your treatment plan.

Strattera: A Non-Stimlant ADHD Medication for Adults

• Most ADHD medications are stimulants, which help many sufferers focus their minds and ignore distractions. Stimulants, however, not only have the potential to wear off by evening, but they are controlled substances with recreational uses and abuses. Given that adults with ADHD are more prone to substance abuse, stimulants pose a risk.

  Strattera is the only non-stimulant ADHD medication that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for adult treatment. Strattera works by helping to replenish and re-balance neurotransmitters, which are natural to the brain. A common effect of this re-balancing is improved concentration and less distraction and fidgeting.

Wellbutrin

• Wellbutrin, or Bupropion SR and XL, was developed as a drug to help people quit smoking. It has also had a run as a mild anti-depressant. Recent studies has shown it to be effective for adults with ADHD. Wellbutrin has similar properties to amphetamine, which among other things, is a stimulant often used to target ADHD, but it avoids the potential for abuse. It also tends to be more tolerable to patients who don't do well with stimulants. There may be, however, a trade-off between safety and effectiveness, as some physicians say it is less powerful than other ADHD medications.

Concerta

• Concerta is a slow-release stimulant brought to market in 2000. The medication releases into the bloodstream at a slower rate than many traditional stimulants and sustains over a longer period of time. Thus, it comes on and wears off more gently than many medications while acting over a longer period. Typically, Concerta can be taken once per day, with a peak period of roughly 8 hours and a total effectiveness of up to 12 hours. Other stimulants may be taken 2 to 3 times per day, with a peak period of 1 of 4 hours and a total effective time of typically 5 hours.

Variable Effects

• The safest medication varies by patient. Safety is based on a patient's other health conditions, responses to medications, history, lifestyle and other factors. Always consult a physician or psychiatrist to determine which medication poses the fewest risks and maximum benefits.