How do ADHD medications work?

Around 2.6 million people in the UK are thought to be affected by ADHD, making up 2-5% of children and 3-4% of adults. There are 3 main types of ADHD; impulsivity and hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and combined, and alongside this, your age and gender will impact which type of ADHD you have and the severity of it.

There are some people who have an ADHD diagnosis and find that they can function in their day-to-day lives without the need for medication and others that have more severe symptoms and find that taking ADHD medication significantly improves their daily function and harnesses their superpower.

To understand how ADHD medication can work, we need to first investigate how key processes in the brain work for a non-ADHD individual and compare these to an ADHD brain.

How does a non-ADHD brain work?

Neurotransmission occurs when brain cells or neurons pass information to each other and to do this, a small number of chemicals called neurotransmitters are released from the tail end of the sending neuron. To reach the tip of the next receiving neuron, the neurotransmitter chemicals must cross a small gap called a synapse. This process repeats for everything our brain tells our body to do. 

How an ADHD brain works

For the above process to work in an ADHD brain, extra neurotransmitters are needed for the sending neurons so they can get ready to send another signal, a process known as reuptake. Typically, in an ADHD brain, this process happens too quickly, before the receiving neuron has got the message. Another way the ‘normal’ functioning of the brain can be affected with ADHD is there may not be enough neurotransmitters released by the sending neuron. The neurotransmitter chemicals may have trouble activating the receptors in the receiving neuron, which act as landing pads. The neurotransmitters may be vacuumed back up by the sending neuron before a connection is made. 

How ADHD medication works to lessen ADHD symptoms 

The main way in which ADHD medication helps to reduce symptoms is by helping neurons pass along messages more effectively. When the action of passing information from neuron to neuron is disrupted it can impact attention, motivation, and impulse control and ADHD medication works to streamline this process.

ADHD medication can enhance the release of neurotransmitters, stimulate the receptors to enable them to catch more of the neurotransmitters, and slow down the reuptake process so that neurotransmitters have more time to activate the next neuron.

There are 2 main types of ADHD medication, stimulants, and non-stimulants and each type targets a different neurotransmitter. It is normal to respond differently to different medications and healthcare professionals will usually advise trying a few and switching to confirm which suits the individual best. Although it is important to note that ADHD medication is not a cure, finding the right medication for you can significantly reduce symptoms and calm hyperactivity, increase attention and possibly give the quality of life that the individual desires. 

A positive checklist when you’re on the right ADHD medication

Experimenting with different ADHD medications can be frustrating, but it is a positive step toward finding the right medication for you. If you find yourself entering a phase of experimentation with your ADHD medication, below is a checklist of the positive traits that show that your ADHD medication is working for you-

1. Impulsivity control – you will be able to control your thoughts, and physical movements and interrupt people less often than before.

2. Increased attention to detail – allowing you to catch small mistakes in work before they happen.

3. Greater focus – able to focus for longer periods and able to direct it toward things important to you.

4. Improved memory – able to remember things more clearly from day to day.

5. Improved mood – feeling less anxious and stressed than before.

6. Enhanced sleep – reduced racing thoughts before falling asleep and able to sleep better without waking as much. 

How to understand if your ADHD medication isn’t right for you

When trialling various ADHD medications, keeping track of how you feel throughout the process is important. Do you feel the same, better, or worse? Ask yourself important questions about how you feel physically and mentally and creating a checklist of symptoms and side effects can be a great way to help you on the right track to the right medication.

The most obvious sign that an ADHD medication isn’t working for you is that you feel none of the positive effects mentioned above. You may feel some of them but not all and this could be a sign that your medication may still need tweaking, especially if they come with side effects such as headaches, nausea, loss of appetite or trouble sleeping. These points are red flags and should be talked over with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Other points to take note of around ADHD medication, which may not mean you need to change medication but still needs some investigations are- 

Getting the right dose.

You may be feeling some positive symptoms from medication, but it may not feel like enough, in this case, your dosage may need increasing and vice versa.

The time of day you take your medication.

Taking your medication too early or too late means that it could either have not kicked in or be wearing off at the time that you need it. Keep track of when you need it most and plan to take it at the same time every day.

Life and hormonal changes.

As our life changes, so do our brains and this means needing to change our dosage and medication alongside this to ensure we get the maximum benefit. 

Discuss an ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and medication plan with a specialist ADHD clinic

If you are right at the beginning of your ADHD journey, or at the stage where you have tried various medications and don’t know where to turn next, at Beyond Clinic we can help whatever your situation, in getting the right help in the form of a professional, evidence-based approach founded on data, which ensures precision from the very beginning.

We understand that it can be frustrating trialling numerous methods of treatment through your doctor, often taking a “finger in the air” approach. Speaking with an ADHD psychiatrist at Beyond Clinic means that you won't have to wait on those NHS waiting lists, as our ultra-personalised approach ensures 100% attention is on you, giving you a programme designed for life.