ADHD Treatment

There are many options available to treat people diagnosed with ADHD. The options with the greatest scientific support include a variety of medications, behavior modification, and educational interventions. The results of a large randomized controlled trial suggested that medication alone is superior to behavioral therapy alone, but that the combination of behavioral therapy and medication has a small additional benefit over medication alone.

Mainstream treatments

The first-line medication used to treat ADHD are mostly stimulants, which work by stimulating the areas of the brain responsible for focus, attention, and impulse control. The use of stimulants to treat a syndrome often characterized by hyperactivity is sometimes referred to as a paradoxical effect. But there is no real paradox in that stimulants activate brain inhibitory and self-organizing mechanisms permitting the individual to have greater self-regulation. The stimulants used include:

• Methylphenidate — Available in:
• Regular formulation, sold as Ritalin, Metadate, Focalin. Duration: 4–6 hours per dose. Usually taken morning, lunchtime, and in some cases, afternoon.
• Long acting formulation, sold as Ritalin LA, Metadate ER. Duration: 6–8 hours per dose. Usually taken twice daily.
• All-day formulation, sold as Ritalin SR, Metadate CD, Concerta, Focalin XR and Daytrana (patch). Duration: 10–12 hours per dose. Usually taken once a day.
• Amphetamines —
• Dextroamphetamine — Available in:
• Regular formulation, sold as Dexedrine. Duration: 4–6 hours per dose. Usually taken 2–3 times daily.
• Long-acting formulation, sold as Dexedrine Spansules. Duration: 8–12 hours per dose. Taken once a day.
• Adderall, a trade name for a mixture of dextroamphetamine and laevoamphetamine salts. — Available in:
• Regular formulation, Adderall. Duration: 4–6 hours a dose.
• Long-acting formulation, Adderall XR. Duration: 12 hours. Taken once a day.