Other Treatment Options

Antidepressants and other medicines are often used to treat ADHD in people who do not improve from stimulants. They can also be used when a person has ADHD and depression, anxiety, bed wetting, or sleep problems. Tricyclics are one class of antidepressants. Wellbutrin XL^® is another kind of antidepressant. These drugs work like stimulants by affecting chemicals in the brain. They can be good for treating ADHD symptoms. But they have the most positive effect on mood. In general, they make children happier and less irritable, angry, anxious, or worried. Tricyclic antidepressants are usually taken by mouth once or twice a day.

In most cases, tricyclics are not given to people with heart problems. That's because they can affect how the heart works. An overdose can be fatal. There are a number of side effects, too. These include seizures and rashes. Unlike stimulants that are washed out of the body in a few hours, antidepressants must build up in the bloodstream over long periods of time. Children can build up a tolerance to these medicines. They often have to stop taking them after a year or two. Bupropion may also increase the risk of seizures and make tics worse.

The well-known "SSRIs" (serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors), such as Prozac^® (fluoxetine) and Zoloft^® (sertraline), are another kind of antidepressant. They are not effective for treating core ADHD symptoms. However, they can treat other conditions. Other kinds of medicine such as clonidine, guanfacine, and lithium are sometimes prescribed. Clonidine and guanfacine have been shown to reduce hyperactivity or severe insomnia in some children with ADHD. But they do not improve attention symptoms.