Medication and mental health
ADHD Treatment Options: Medications, Therapy, and What Works Best
ADHD treatment works best with the right plan.
Understanding ADHD medication
Learn why stimulants lead, non-stimulants are catching up, and therapy can supercharge results.
ADHD Medication FAQ's
Stimulant medications (lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate) as well as selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) (atomoxetine) were the only treatments that consistently reduced core ADHD symptoms, both from the perspective of patients and clinicians.
Belo you can find a helpful Canadian medication chart, as well as current formulary coverage for these medicines across Canada.
Stimulant medications have shown to offer symptomatic improvement in areas like:
- The ability to have sustained attention and on-task behaviours, resulting in improved academic performance,
- Enhanced daily functioning, both at home, on the job,
- Enhanced relational functioning,
- Decreased risk of later substance use disorders when initiated in childhood,
- Decreased risk of motor vehicle collisions.
Long-acting stimulants (instead of short-acting) have been shown to less prone to abuse or diversion compared to their short-acting counterparts.
- Long-acting stimulants (instead of short-acting) have been shown to less prone to abuse or diversion compared to their short-acting counterparts.
- Research has also demonstrated they are safe for long term use, with no adverse effects on growth or increased vulnerability to substance use disorder.
There are two main categories of psychostimulant medication: Amphetamines and Methylphenidate.
Stimulant medicines achieve their beneficial effects by increasing the levels or availability, of neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the brain.
- Dopamine, one of the most important neurotransmitters, has been directly linked to concentration, attention, and more recently show to be directly related to motivation and the willingness to take on difficult tasks.
- Norepinephrine plays an important role in daytime alertness.
- Glutamate Some stimulant drugs also increase the level of glutamate, a neurotransmitter associated with behavioural control and inhibition.
When you start a trial of stimulant medication, it’s important to appreciate what outcomes you should be looking for (see above!).
That is, you must track how symptoms such as impulsiveness, concentration, motivation, emotional dysregulation are affected in your daily life.
This helps you collaborate with your physician, nurse practitioner or ADHD therapist, to plan your treatment, and tailor the medical treatment to your brain.
Helpful articles on ADHD medication
- The 12 most common questions about ADHD medication, answered by an ADHD psychiatrist.
- A literature review and meta-analysis on the effects of ADHD medications on functional outcomes.
- How Does ADHD Medication Work? With Lots of Monitoring
- Canadian information on ADHD medications, provincial formularies & co-pay assistance programs.
- The Dopamine Dilemma: Using Stimulants and Antipsychotics Concurrently
- “How Can I Tell If the ADHD Medication is Working?” Treatment Troubleshooting Guide
What about cannabis?
Many people ask about the effects of cannabis on the ADHD brain, both in terms of treatment, and also because of the high rate of co-use in terms of cannabis substance use disorder.
CADDRA has published a position statement on the use of Cannabis in ADHD, and can be reviewed here.
Tracking Progress
How do we know if it’s all working? How do you track progress?
One of the biggest risk of harm in an ADHD patient’s experience in therapy is when a medication target is treated the same as a psychological target.
Tracking your unique symptoms and sharing your observations with your therapist is the only way to tell where ADHD ends (the invisible brain driven stuff), and you (the conscious choice maker) begin.
New Research Highlights
Factors Associated With Medication Adherence Among Patients With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Journal of attention disorders, 29(12), 1039–1053. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547251336852
Hear from the experts!
Listen in to the premiere episode of The Christina Crowe Podcast: making the invisible VISIBLE, featuring Dr. Joan Flood, talking about the nuances of evidenced-based treatment for ADHD brains.
ADHD Patient Associations
For current and evidenced based information about medication, please visit reputable websites like the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA) or CADDAC.
- CADDRA is an independent, not-for-profit, resource organization for medical, healthcare and research professionals with an interest in the field of ADHD.
- For school or workplace advocacy, free education, workshops for parents and other ADHD related resources, you can also visit the Canadian national patient advocacy association, CADDAC.
Need help with treatment costs?
A reminder:
- You can self-advocate through your HR department, patient advocacy organizations, or through the media (patients/HCPs) and ask for exceptional coverage to meet yours or your family needs.
- For medications listed on Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) people under 25 can receive their medication for free under OHIP+ at a pharmacy if they do not have private insurance coverage from parents.
- Patients over 25 with financial need can apply for Trillium coverage.
In Canada:
- RxHelp.ca: medicines in general
- Foquest: new Patient Support Program called MyQuest (enter the DIN from your Rx at the link, or scan this QR code to get started).
- Brand Concerta
- Vyvanse: As of June 1, 2024, Patients can register InnoviCares to register for a card that will allow them to save a portion off each prescription.
- Intuniv Patient Assistance Program: 1-855-442-9395 (between 8am – 8pm EST, Monday to Friday) or email them.
- Adderall XR
- Brand Strattera
In the U.S.:
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