Drugs Info e-Learning: ADHD Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Treatment

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a controversial childhood mental disorder with the onset before age of 7.

Symptoms may include:

· difficulty in remaining seated

· easy distractibility

· difficulty awaiting one's turn

· inability to follow instructions

· excessive talking

· other disruptive behaviour

ADHA individuals appear to produce less dopamine when engaged in activites since dopamine is the reward in neurotransmitters. ADHA patients respond to CNS stimulants.

Methylphenidate HCl

Methylphenidate HCL is a mild CNS stimulant which can produce calming effect and improve one's attention span.

However, it may cause side effeccts of gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, headache, and depression. Also, growth retardation is found.

Methylphenidate appears to be a frequent drug of choice among college students. This is because it is able to promote wakefulness, increase attentiveness and focus, while suppress appetite and induce euphoria (provide the chance to escape from reality of life).

Methylxanthines

Various beverage contain methylxanthines such as tea, coffee, cocoa, and soft drinks. It has mild central stimulant effect

The main compounds are caffeine and theophylline. It is also known as analeptics

The average caffeine consumption in beverages is 200 mg /day

Methylxanthines mechanism of action

They act as antagonists of adenosine receptors where both A1 and A2 receptors are affected.

Adenosine receptors are located on pre-synaptic terminals of noradrenergic neurons and blocks noradrenaline release. Hence, caffeine increases NA (noradrenaline) release.

Also, inhibition of phosphodiesterase may occur but only at very high doses.

Peripheral actions are exerted mainly on heart, smooth muscle and kidney.

How Caffeine Works

Adenosine helps prepare the body to sleep by curbing the chatter between nerve cells and by widening blood vessels to increase the flow of oxygen.

Receptors on the surface of brain cells can't tell the difference between adenonsine and caffeine (competitive inhibitor). So when you consume caffeine, it attaches itself to the receptors and adenosine is shut out.

Without adenosine to make you sleepy, your brain activity perks up and you become more alert. By blocking adenosine, caffeine also constricts your blood vessels, which has the ability to make your headache disappear.

Caffeine pharmacological effects

At central nervous system, caffeine stimulate cortex first, followed by medulla and spinal cord at high doses.

The main effects are reduced fatigue & improved mental performance (improved concentration and clearer flow of thought) without euphoria

Other major pharmacological effects are

diuresis

stimulation of cardiac muscle

relaxation of smooth muscle especially bronchial muscle

Therapeutic uses

Theophylline is used clinically as a bronchodilator. Other few clinical uses of caffeine is to treat headache and pain when added together with aspirin. Also, it is used as antimigraine with ergotamine.

Drugs Info e-Learning

Saturday 16 June 2012

ADHD Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Treatment | Therapy

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