Stimulants for ADHD

These drugs increase the levels of specific brain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine in people with ADHD. They allow your brain's nerves to communicate with one another. They're also triggered by pleasurable activities. If you're taking them for ADHD, you'll get slow, steady amounts, precisely like your brain would normally produce. This helps you feel more energized, pay greater attention, and stay awake.

ADHD Stimulants You Should Know

Short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting stimulants are all available to treat ADHD.

Short-acting variants are typically taken two or three times each day, while long-acting types are only taken once per day. The advantage of short-acting medications is that you have more control over when they are in your system. The disadvantage is that you must remember to take them frequently.

The advantage of the long-acting version is that you don't have to remember to take them as often, usually only once a day. They may help reduce the severity of some negative effects. However, unless you have your medicine dose and time down, it may be more difficult to relax at night.

Stimulants with a short half-life include:

  • Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine) (Adderall)

  • Dextroamphetamine is a stimulant (Dexedrine, ProCentra, Zenzedi)

  • Dexmethylphenidate is a kind of dexmethylphenidate that is (Focalin)

  • Methylphenidate is a kind of phenidate that is used to treat (Ritalin)

The following are examples of intermediate-acting stimulants:

  • Sulfate of amphetamine (Evekeo)

  • Methylphenidate is a kind of phenidate that is used to treat (Ritalin SR, Metadate ER, Methylin ER)

Stimulants with a long half-life include:

  • Amphetamine is a stimulant (Adzenys XR-ODT, Dyanavel XR)

  • Dexmethylphenidate is a kind of dexmethylphenidate that is (Focalin XR)

  • Dextroamphetamine is a stimulant (Adderall XR)

  • Lisdexamfetamine is a kind of lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)

  • Methylphenidate is a kind of phenidate that is used to treat (Concerta, Daytrana, Jornay PM, Metadate CD, Quillivant XR, Quillichew ER, Ritalin LA)

  • A single-entity amphetamine product's mixed salts (Mydayis)

  • Serdexmethylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate are two different types of methylphenidate (Azstarys)


The majority of medications are tablets, but they can also come in the form of a skin patch or a liquid.