How Do Non-stimulants differ from Stimulants in ADHD Treatment?

What are Non-stimulants?

Non-stimulants target a brain chemical called norepinephrine. By targeting this chemical, non-stimulants can help treat ADHD by improving overall mood, such as decreasing hyperactivity, increasing attention span, and reducing impulsive behaviors. 

How do Non-stimulants differ from stimulants?

Currently, one of the most widely prescribed treatments for ADHD is stimulant medications. We go into great detail about what stimulants are, and how they interact with your brain here. In essence, stimulants target dopamine receptors in the brain whereas non-stimulants target norepinephrine. Non-stimulants tend to take longer to take effect as well. 

The Takeaway

Both non-stimulants and stimulants have their own set of common side effects. These include loss of appetite and trouble sleeping in stimulant medications like Adderall, and moodiness and nausea in non-stimulants like Straterra.

It is important to realize that the list of symptoms is not a comprehensive list one and there are more severe but rare side effects for both types of medications. That is a factor in choosing between the two. One may take non-stimulants because they cannot tolerate the side effects associated with stimulants. Here at Pathways NeuroPsychology, we take great care to assess each situation individually and help create a comprehensive plan that caters to your child’s specific needs in order to deal with ADHD in a proactive manner.