More Parents Are Asking for Non-Medicated ADHD Treatments
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder. Its core symptoms are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms not only impact children's academic performance but also negatively impact their social interactions, family relationships, and self-esteem.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder. Its core symptoms are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms not only impact children's academic performance but also negatively impact their social interactions, family relationships, and self-esteem.
Many parents prioritize non-drug treatments to avoid medication side effects and promote their children's overall physical and mental development. These non-drug treatments offer two key avenues of hope for change.
- Pharmacological Treatment:
- Stimulants, such as Ritalin and amphetamines, are among the most commonly used medications for ADHD. They can improve attention and concentration, while reducing hyperactivity and impulsivity.
- Non-stimulants, such as atomoxetine, are a newer ADHD medication with a different mechanism of action than stimulants. They modulate neurotransmitter levels and improve ADHD symptoms.
- Non-Pharmacological Treatment:
- Behavioral Therapy: These methods modify children's behavior and environment to help them better manage their behavior. These approaches include positive reinforcement, token economies, and behavioral contracts. Psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy, can help children and parents better understand ADHD and improve coping strategies and problem-solving skills.
- Educational interventions: Provide personalized educational support to help children overcome learning difficulties and improve their academic performance.
- Dietary and lifestyle modifications: Some studies suggest that dietary and lifestyle adjustments may have a certain impact on ADHD symptoms. For example, reducing sugar and additives intake and increasing physical activity may help.
So what are the advantages of drug treatment and hospitalization?
★ Drug treatment
ADHD treatment drugs are mainly central nervous system stimulants and non-central nervous system stimulants. Doctors will gradually increase the dosage according to the child's condition to achieve the optimal dosage.
(1) Common central nervous system stimulants include methylphenidate and amphetamine. Methylphenidate is usually the first choice.
(2) Non-central nervous system stimulants include two major categories: selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and α2 adrenergic receptor agonists. Of course, there is no drug without side effects. ADHD drugs are no exception. Among them, decreased appetite, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, drowsiness, and mood swings are more common. However, clinical studies have confirmed that ADHD drugs have good adaptability, and common adverse reactions are mostly mild or short-lived. It should be noted that the treatment of ADHD in children should be based on a personalized treatment plan according to the specific situation of the child. Drug treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor, and the treatment effect and side effects need to be evaluated regularly. Non-drug treatment should also be combined with drug treatment to achieve the best treatment effect. In addition, the support and understanding of parents and teachers are also very important for the child's treatment.
