List of ADHD Medicines

There are many different types of ADHD Medicines and compiling them into a list would require too much. The list is grouped into the most active ingredients.

Methlyphenidate

This is a psycho stimulant medication and it is the preferred choice of treatment for pediatricians and the medical community overall. It has been in use for ADHD since the 1960s and has undergone various changes in it's delivery. Now the most popular stimulant drugs are all set for timed release. What happens is that the capsule has a coating that allows the capsule to breakdown over a period of 12 hours. Previously the most common stimulant medication used, Ritalin gave the entire dose at once giving a rush then a shorter "coming down" period. It would require you to take the capsules more often during the day.

Amphetamine

This psycho stimulant has had a long a varied history. Synthesized in 1887 by a Romanian in Germany, used in 1927 for a ephedrine replacement. During the second world war it was heavily used to reduce fatigue among soldiers on both sides of the war. It also promoted a feeling of well being and exhilaration. During this time it was taken as an inhaler and called Benzedrine. The inhalers were banned after years of abuse and limited Amphetamine to medical purposes only. Methamphetamine is a related compound

Magnesium pemoline

This is the least used of the medications used in the treatment of ADHD. This is because the need for bi-monthly liver assessments. This ADHD medication has a huge effect on the patient's liver causing in some cases liver failure. Obviously most parents and doctors will not trade a lack of focus and poor behavior because of it with liver problems or death.

All prescription medications carry risk, like kidney or liver problems, stomach and sometimes even death. The risk of using an ADHD medicine must outweigh the risks of not treating the disorder.