ADHD: how do medications for ADHD work?

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Stimulant and non stimulant medications for ADHD improve behavior in children with ADHD, according to research. The stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) and non stimulant atomoxetine (Strattera) were evaluated by researchers at King's College in London.

They found that:

• Methylphenidate works quickly to make tasks which are usually difficult for children with ADHD easier

• Both methylyphenidate and atomoxetine increase activity in the frontal lobes of the brain causing that area of the brain to act in the same way as the brain of someone who doesn't have ADHD

The study  "Neurofunctional Effects of Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine in Boys with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder During Time Discrimination" is published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action