ADD

• According to the NIH, attention-deficit disorder (ADD) may affect as many as one in every 20 children. Individuals with ADD struggle to stay focused and are easily distracted. ADD occurs when problems exist with the neurotransmitters present in the brain. Different medications may be prescribed to manage ADD symptoms.
  
  

Stimulant Medications

• Ritalin and Dexadrine are stimulant drugs often prescribed to treat ADD. They work by stimulating and increasing dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that takes messages from one area of the brain to the other. When dopamine is increased, it is able to more effectively transmit messages in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that affects how happy or well an individual feels overall.
  
  

Amphetamines

• Adderall is an amphetamine that is sometimes prescribed to children with ADD. Adderall helps individuals to stay alert and concentrate more easily on a given task. Adderall increases the amount of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine present in the brain. Dopamine manages the ability to concentrate. Norepinephrine can cause inattention and problems with memory when insufficient. By increasing these two neurotransmitters, Adderall helps individuals to overcome symptoms of ADD.
  
  

Non-Stimulant Medications

• Strattera, a non-stimulant, increases norepinephrine, a brain chemical that helps with attention span. Stattera works by stopping the presynaptic norepinephrine inhibitor from working so that additional norepinephrine will be present in the brain. More norepinephrine helps to boost attention span and control behavior impulses.
  
  

Antidepressants

• Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that is sometimes prescribed for those with both ADD and depression. According to ADHDhelp.org, exactly how Wellbutrin benefits those with ADD is uncertain. However, it is proposed that Wellbutrin has an effect on dopamine and norepinephrine.