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Titrating Medication For ADHD Titrating medication for ADHD is a lengthy process. It is, however, a vital part of finding the appropriate dosage for each individual. The right dosage has less to do with height or weight than other factors like the history of stimulant medications, comorbid conditions, and severity of symptoms. Medicines There are a variety of treatments for ADHD. Most of them work by boosting certain chemicals in the brain that control your behavior (called neurotransmitters). Your doctor will help decide which medication is best for you, along with the best dosage and schedule. It may take some time to find the right combination of medications. Stimulants are among the most popular treatment for ADHD. These medications increase the levels of the chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine inside the brain, which helps increase attention span and reduces the level of impulsivity. The stimulants are methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, as well as atomoxetine. Your doctor might prescribe a nonstimulant medicine to treat ADHD. These medications aren't as fast acting as stimulants, but they can help increase your ability to focus and pay attention. Clonidine (Kapvay) Intuniv (Guanfacine), and Viloxazine are all non-stimulant medicines. These drugs affect a different chemical in the brain than dopamine, and they can help to calm down your emotions and improve your control over impulses. Stimulant medications can cause adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Keep track of any side effects to allow your doctor to adjust dosages or switch medications depending on the need. If you or your child suffers severe, inexplicably unpleasant adverse effects, speak to your doctor about it immediately. During the titration process, your doctor will monitor your symptoms and side-effects to determine the appropriate dosage of medication for you. Typically, they begin you on the lowest dose, and then gradually increase it until you the desired dosage. This allows them to find the dosage that will give you the greatest benefit with the fewest possible negative side consequences. Once they've found the right dosage your doctor may schedule regular sessions for clinical monitoring. These appointments usually take place monthly at the beginning of treatment, and then every three to four months thereafter. This will ensure that your medication is well-tolerated and effective. During these visits your doctor will review your symptoms and progress and look for any comorbid conditions, and adjust the dose and frequency of your medication if needed. Dosage Stimulant medications are absorbed quickly, and they do not require a long-term build-up within the body before reaching maximum effectiveness. Nonstimulant drugs on the other hand, can take up to six weeks before achieving full effect. During this period doctors will employ the titration method to determine the proper dosage for each patient. Suggested Resource site takes into consideration the patient's age and underlying health issues. It also considers body weight and immunity, allergies, and more. The dosage of each medication can be adjusted in accordance with the patient's other medications, like SSRIs (anantidepressant) and other prescription medications that cause drowsiness or interact with stimulants. Titration can be done for any drug, even nonstimulant medications, but it is important for ADHD medications. These medications affect dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the pre-frontal cortex region of the brain, which is responsible for executive and organizational functioning. The dosage is gradually increasing the dose over a period of days, weeks or even months until a patient is in their “zone of optimal benefit” which is the point where their symptoms are controlled without causing excessive stimulation or other side effects. During the titration process, patients will visit their doctor weekly to discuss how the medication is working and what possible side effects might be. They'll also schedule monthly visits to the doctor to assess their overall health and symptom improvement and make adjustments to the medication if necessary. The doctor might prescribe a different medication or alter the dosage if the initial medication isn't working or causing too many adverse effects. Other long-term medicines like heart medicine and antibiotics, also employ the titration method. Patients should be careful when titrating long-acting stimulants, such as SSRIs, because they can have serious side consequences if they consume too much or if the dosage isn't monitored. It is crucial that patients follow the guidelines given by their physician when self-titrating. Patients should only self-titrate their long-acting ADHD medications, not depression or anxiety medicines. This will help prevent miscommunication between doctors if a patient visits several doctors before settling into his “zone”. Side effects It's important that you understand the side effects associated with the ADHD medication. Your doctor will discuss them with you, and might be required to alter the dosage to avoid adverse effects such as insomnia, stomach upset headaches, jitters, or dizziness. The side effects of medicines are often long-lasting and must be monitored. The medications used to treat ADHD alter the way your brain processes neurotransmitters. They can boost the levels of these chemicals, which improves your ability to focus and control impulses, as well as resist distractions. They can also reduce the amount of impulsivity and hyperactivity. There are many drugs that treat ADHD. These include stimulants, nonstimulants and melatonin. Stimulants, the most commonly used medication, can trigger serious adverse effects that require medical attention. Non-stimulants to improve concentration and focus are generally safe. However, they can cause side effects such as dry mouth or drowsiness. It is crucial to regulate your dosage, particularly for long-acting stimulants that are taken daily and last six to eight hours. Some patients need to supplement the extended-release medication by taking an immediate-release dose in the afternoon and evening, to ensure that they can continue to function well after the first dose wears off. Titration can also be used for medicines that must be taken over a long time period, such as blood pressure medication and antidepressants. It helps determine the appropriate dosage of these medications, which could take months or years to reach therapeutic levels. The technique can also be used to determine the right dose for a combination of drugs, like psychosocial treatment and stimulants. The process of titration is difficult, particularly for older adults who are used to taking lower doses of stimulant medications. The slow titration process helps avoid overdosing and keeping patients on low doses who are sensitive to low doses (such slow metabolism drugs). It is also able to detect drug interactions such as when a patient is taking medications that block CYP2D6 – a enzyme for metabolism of drugs – in conjunction with atomoxetine. Schedule To adjust the dosage of medication doctors will usually start with a lower dose, and gradually increase the dosage. They will frequently check in with patients and adjust the dosage as needed. This may take some time and requires a lot of creativity from the doctor to find the ideal balance. The goal is to achieve a “target dosage” that will provide therapeutic benefits without causing any adverse effects. This is typically done with stimulants but can also be done in conjunction with other medication. Down-titration, also referred to as titration, can be used to reduce the dosage of a medication. This can be used to control the adverse effects of certain medications, or to lower the risk for withdrawal symptoms after stopping the medication. It is crucial to monitor your child or yourself if you are taking ADHD medication. Inform your doctor how you feel. This means that the medication can be adjusted to get the most effective results. It could take some time but the effort is worth it. It is also essential to ask questions and be informed about the process of titration.