List of Medications for ADHD
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We decided to list medications for ADHD as a guide for parents to know what types of ADHD medicines are available. Having this list of medications for ADHD can come in handy when it comes time to talk to your child’s doctor about what treatment options are best for you. There are a lot of different drugs available and doing your research on each one will help you be the most prepared when discussing it with your doctor so you can make the best informed choice for you and your child.
It’s important to know that all medications pose risks and potential side effects. Not all of them are guaranteed to have the same effect in everyone. Your own health and genetic history may also be a very important factor that your physician will take into consideration, since some medicines for ADHD are known to be of more concern for those with a history of heart disease or tics.
It should be noted also that while we will try to update this list as much as possible with new medical findings and research, there is no guarantee that we can be sure this list is the most up to date because things can change often, frequently, and rather quickly. It should also be noted that we here at ADHD Parent support do not recommend any one medication over another, because it is a decision that is best left up to you and your doctor. There is no such thing as the “best medications for ADHD” because it will vary from person to person. Not all medications have the same effect and results on everyone and so talking to your doctor is the best course of action to pursue. This ADHD medications list is here mainly for information purposes so if your doctor is talking about switching medicines you can have a familiarity of the different drugs available.
Another important thing to note is that some medications listed here have not been approved for all ages or may have certain age restrictions, such as being meant for adults only or not being studied in children under the age of 12 or 6. So depending on your child’s age not all of these medications may even be an option for you to consider just yet.
You may also want to consult with your health insurance company. Not all insurance companies will cover all medications, and many may even only cover the generic unless it can be proved medically necessary through your physician and the pharmacist. It is unfortunate because this leads to many parents being forced to try certain medications when they would rather avoid them.
To help make this list the least confusing, we’ve gathered the medications together under the type of generic name brand.
Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine: Adderall, Adderall XR
Methylphenidate: Concerta, Daytrona, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Ritalin
Methamphetamine: Desoxyn
Dextroamphetamine: Dexedrine, Dextrostat
Dexmethylphenidate: Focalin, Focalin XR
Lisdexamfetamine: Vyvanse
Buspirone:Buspar
Clonidine: Catapres
Did we forget to list medications for ADHD you have used or heard of? Share it in the comments below.