How Do ADHD Agents Work?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) agents are medications prescribed to manage ADHD symptoms such as lack ofattention,hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. ADHD medications work on thecentral nervous systemto improve concentration and reduce impulsive and hyperactive behaviors.

ADHD medications workindifferent ways to improve ADHD symptoms. The main types of ADHD medications include:

• Stimulants: Stimulants increase the levels of two neurohormones (catecholamines)dopamineandnorepinephrinein thebrain. Catecholamines regulate attention, thinking, pleasure and movement. Increasedcatecholaminelevels enhance brain activity and improve alertness and concentration.
  • Stimulants also increaseheart rate,blood pressure,blood glucose, anddilaterespiratorytubes. Stimulants are the most commonly used ADHD medications, but they have potential risk for abuse.
• Alpha-2 agonists: Alpha-2 agonists stimulateproteinmolecules known as alpha-2 receptors in thecentralandsympathetic nervous system, which reduces the release of norepinephrine. Alpha-2 agonists decreasebloodpressure, inhibitpaintransmission, and havesedativeeffects which reduce impulsive behavior and hyperactivity.
• SNRIs: Selective norepinephrinereuptakeinhibitors (SNRIs) work similar to stimulants, but increase only norepinephrine levels in the brain by inhibiting theirreabsorption(reuptake).

ADHD agents are mostly taken orally as tablets, suspensions, or capsules. ADHD medications are available asskinpatches and administered anepiduralinfusion to treatcancerpain that is not relieved byopioidanalgesics.

In addition to treating ADHD, some of the ADHD medications are used to treat the following conditions:

Stimulants

• FDA-approved:
  • Narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder
  • Obesity
  • Binge eating disorder
• Alpha-2 agonists
• FDA-approved:
  • Hypertension
  • Cancer pain
• Orphan designation:
  • Tourette’ssyndrome, a nervous system disorder that causes tics andinvoluntarysounds
  • Fragile X syndrome, ageneticconditionthat affects braindevelopment
• Off-label uses:
  • Alcohol撤回al
  • Smoking cessation
  • Heroin撤回al
  • Opioid withdrawal
  • Migraineprophylaxis
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Tourette’s syndrome
  • Cyclosporinenephrotoxicity
  • Menopausal flushing
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Postherpetic neuralgia
  • Psychosis
  • Pheochromocytomadiagnosis

Side effects of ADHD agents may include the following:

• Anorexia(loss of appetite)
• Infections
• Abdominal pain
• Xerostomia(dry mouth)
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Emotionallability(mood swings)
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Nervousness
• Angerand aggression
• Depression
• Euphoria
• Hyperactivity
• 烦躁不安(不安)
• Dermatillomania (skin picking)
• Dyskinesia(involuntary movements)
• Logorrhea (excessive talking)
• Paresthesia(prickling or crawlingsensation)
• Hypesthesia (numbness)
• Exacerbationof Tourette’s syndrome
• Bruxism(teeth grinding)
• Tremor
• Vertigo
• Asthenia(weakness)
• Somnolence(drowsiness)
• Hypokinesia (slow movements)
• Sedation
• Confusion
• Hallucination
• Nightmares
• Seizure
• Accidentalinjury
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Dyspepsia(indigestion)
• Dysgeusia(tastedisorder)
• Angina(chest pain)
• Ventricularhypertrophy(thickening of ventricular walls)
• Palpitations
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Tachycardia(rapid heartbeat)
• Cardiomyopathy(heart muscledisease) withchronicuse
• Myocardial infarction(heart attack)
• Cardiacarrhythmia(irregular heartbeat)
• Changes inpulserate
• Hypotension(low blood pressure)
• Postural hypotension(drop in blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying down)
• Atrioventricularblock
• Bradycardia(slow heartbeat)
• Reboundhypertension
• Hypertensiveencephalopathy(braindysfunctiondue to high blood pressure)
• Syncope(晕倒)
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Cerebralarteritis (inflammationof cerebral arteries)
• Cerebralocclusion(block)
• Cerebralhemorrhage
• Vasculitis(inflammation of blood vessels)
• Suddendeath(rare)
• Nasalcongestion
• Epistaxis(nasal bleeding)
• Allergic rhinitis(inflammation of thenasal passage)
• Sinusitis(inflammation of the sinuses)
• Throatpain
• Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of nasal passage andpharynx)
• Streptococcalpharyngitis(inflammation of pharynx frombacterialinfection)
• Cough
• Dyspnea(shortness of breath)
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Weight losswith stimulants
• Weight gain with alpha-2 agonists
• Hyperhidrosis(excessivesweating)
• Hot flashes
• Hypersensitive reactions such as:
  • Rash
  • Urticaria(hives)
  • Pruritus(itching)
  • Dermatitis
  • 血管性水肿(swelling in thetissueunder the skin ormucousmembranes)
  • Anaphylaxis(severeallergic reaction)
  • Erythema multiforme(roundlesions like a bullseye)
  • Exfoliative dermatitis (redness and peeling of the skin)
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome(a rare medical emergency withflu-like symptoms and a painful rash)
  • Toxicepidermalnecrolysis (a severe skin condition with widespread redness, skincelldeath, and exfoliation which can lead tosepsis)
• Alopecia(hair loss)
• Exfoliation
• Blurred vision
• Diplopia(double vision)
• Difficulty focusing
• Mydriasis(dilated pupils)
• Reducedblood countconditions such as:
  • Pancytopenia(decrease in all types of blood cells)
  • Thrombocytopenia(decrease inplatelet count)
  • Thrombocytopenicpurpura(easy bruising and bleeding due to thrombocytopenia)
• Back pain
• Legcramps and pain
• Fever
• Malaise
• Pallor
• Edema
• Impotence
• Changes inlibido
• Frequent/prolonged erections
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pelvic pain
• Menstrualdisorder
• Urinary tract infection
• Urinaryretention
• Urinary incontinence
• Frequent urination
• Nocturia(frequent urination at night)
• Raynaud phenomenon (a disorder that causes reduced blood flow to the extremities)
• Arthralgia(jointpain)
• Myalgia(musclepain)
• Muscle tightness and cramps
• Muscletwitching
• Rhabdomyolysis(breakdown ofskeletal musclecells)
• 5 -羟色胺syndrome
• Abnormalliverfunction
• Elevated liverenzymes
• Liver damage and failure
• Eosinophilichepatitis
• Problems with growth and development inpediatricpatients

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with yourdoctoror药剂师to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking yourmedicationand never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Genericand brand names of ADHD drugs include:

• ios万博ManBetX客户端 XR
• Adhansia XR
• Adzenys ER
• Adzenys XR-ODT
• amphetamine
• amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
• Aptensio XR
• atomoxetine
• Azstarys
• Catapres
• Catapres-TTS
• clonidine
• Concerta
• Cotempla XR-ODT
• Daytrana
• Dexedrine
• dexmethylphenidate
• dextroamphetamine
• Duraclon
• Dyanavel XR
• Evekeo
• Evekeo ODT
• Focalin
• Focalin XR
• guanfacine
• Intuniv
• Jornay PM
• Kapvay
• lisdexamfetamine
• Metadate
• Metadate CD
• Metadate ER
• Methylin
• methylphenidate
• Mydayis
• Qelbree
• QuilliChew ER
• Quillivant XR
• Ritalin
• Ritalin LA
• Ritalin SR
• serdexmethylphenidate/methylphenidate
• Strattera
• viloxazine
• Vyvanse