When you encounter the problems associated with ADHD in your child for the first time, sympathy and understanding can help you. Once you realize that you need to take measures for improving the child’s interaction with the environment, you will probably take a difficult decision about using the ADHD meds.

Today, there are no obstacles and uncertainties about the pharmacological ADHD treatment. This is a known fact for all psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health specialists, but not for every adult.

Five things that parents should know:

1. Oral meds do not cure ADHD, but help reduce the symptoms;
2. Treatment can significantly improve the condition in about 80 percent of children;
3. These medicines activate parts of the brain, which are responsible for attention and focusing;
4. If you have started a treatment course and the symptoms do not improve, do not stop the course without consulting with a doctor;
5. ADHD meds can cause side effects, although the treatment benefits usually outweigh the risks.

If you want to buy ADHD meds you will be facing a problem. The fact is that the modern market offers a huge range of effective medications, which makes it difficult to make a final choice.

Start your search by choosing a type of ADHD meds:

• Stimulants
• Non-stimulants

We can not claim that one type of products is better or worse than the other, though they differ in their mechanism of action. Their effectiveness is about the same for most patients.

The choice may be based on the severity of ADHD symptoms and the doctor’s recommendations. If stimulants do not work or cause unpleasant side effects, non-stimulants will most likely help.

Which to choose, branded drugs or generics?

List of popular non-stimulants:

• Strattera
• Intuniv

As a rule, brand-name drugs are more expensive than their generics are. If you want to buy generics of these ADHD meds, look for them under the such names, as:

• Atomoxetine
• Guanfacine

You will notice the same situation with prices when you buy stimulants. Generics are at least as good as their brand-name competitors, and almost always cheaper.

The market offers a wide range of this type of ADHD meds, such as:

• Concerta
• Adderall
• Focalin
• Quillivant
• Vyvanse
• Methylin

Have you ever used these drugs to treat ADHD? If you did, then you should know that you actually used:

• Methylphenidate
• Amphetamine
• Dexmethylphenidate
• Lisdexamfetamine

This is the name of the active substances contained in stimulants. Look at the package of any brand name medication. After the original name, you will find on it the name of the active substance that your medication contains.

Slow and fast release ADHD meds – which suit you better?

As you already understood, there are many medications used to control ADHD. Initially, they were all short-acting drugs, which worked for several hours, or most of the day.

Over the past 25 years, the pharmaceutical companies took great pains to develop new ways of the drug delivery. Great success was achieved in the creation of special capsules that have several layers. They release the drug in portions, which allows extending its effectiveness.

Immediate-release ADHD meds are usually taken several times a day. This is not always convenient for parents, who need to monitor the dosage, as well as for children, who need to take tablets several times a day.

Long-acting formulas remain in the body for more than 10-12 hours. Typically, they are used once a day, which can be useful for children, who have a long school day. New pills provide a comfortable dosing regimen, yet they can be more expensive, than the immediate-release formulations are.

Bottom line

Although the positive treatment results manifest quite quickly, all ADHD meds are intended for long-term use. If your health insurance does not cover the treatment, be ready for significant and permanent expenses.

Buying generic ADHD meds is a way out of this situation. The cheapest generic versions used to treat ADHD are available for sale online.