How does a stimulant like ritalin help people with Attention Deficit Disorder to focus?
I understand that stimulants like ritalin and concerta, etc. make non-ADD people act like they are on “speed” but actually works to slow down the mind of someone who is ADD. Does it help someone with ADD focus better, avoid distractions or both?
ADHD is a brain deficiency generally thought to be a problem with the frontal lobe of the brain. It is thought that the neurotransmitter Dopamine is responsible for “engaging” the frontal lobe which allows us to focus, attend, pay attention. A stimulant like Ritalin (mehylphenidate) or Adderall, orDexedrine has a very complex and interesting pharmacology (most of which we really don’t fully understand) however, simply put, the stimulants generally cause dopamine and norepinephrine to be more available (by re-uptake inhibition) to the frontal lobe, Therefore, allowing the deficient brain to now have an abundance of dopamine to be available and “engane” all of the wonderful things the frontal lobe is known to do. So, yes, it will almost definately help someone with ADHD to focus better, concentrate and attend better. As well as allow them to be less impulsive, less impatient, less disruptive, etc. It works great!
An interesting finding in my own experience. I have treated several adults who I thought had ADHD. During their initial interviews, I find it not uncommon that they will relate to me similar experiences of the following. Usually while younger (teens–early twenties) they found while partying with their friends, that, if they were getting high with speed or “meth”, they noticed that their friends were certainly high, amped up, and having a good time, while they themselves would tend to start doing bills or straighten up the house or just in general, organize their clutter. In essence, they were unintentionally self medicating their then undiagnosed ADHD.
Also, it is important to realize that, almost anyone will find that they perform a bit better after taking a stimulant. So, that alone is not necessarily diagnostic of actually having an ADHD.
Focus
