ADHD and Non-stimulants

In roughly 20 percent of the cases of people with ADHD, stimulants don’t work. This is the main reason why some individuals will turn to a non-stimulant instead. Individuals may also choose a non-stimulant due to the adverse side effects of stimulants. That said, all medications have side effects; non-stimulants are no exception. Finally, a third reason why individuals may choose a non-stimulant is to treat an associated disorder at the same time. For the purpose of treating ADHD, non-stimulants are grouped under the following types: antidepressants, antihypertensives, mood stabilizers and neuroleptic drugs. A fifth type, unceremoniously known as simply “non-stimulant,” is used to categorize the selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine.

• ADHD and Atomoxetine
• ADHD and Antidepressants
• ADHD and Tricyclics
• ADHD and Bupropion
• ADHD and Antihypertensives
• ADHD and Mood Stabilizers
• ADHD and Narcoleptic drugs

Atomoxetine is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. This means that is blocks the reabsorption of norepinephrine, increasing its overall availability. Unlike stimulants that work on the...

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Antihypertensives selectively stimulate the receptors associated with the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine in the brain. The result is an increase in an individual’s ability to...

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Mood stabilizers work in a variety of ways. Lithium, for example, increases the amount of serotonin—a known mood stabilizer in the brain. Carbamazepine, volproic acid, and lamotrigine, on the other...

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A prohistamine, modafinil promotes wakefulness by stimulating the histamine in the brain. Specifically, modafinil helps to promote frontal-lobe functions such as decision-making, organization, time...

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