{"id":89999,"date":"2025-07-25T00:31:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T00:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/89999\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T00:31:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T00:31:10","slug":"what-to-know-about-adhd-meds-and-the-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/89999\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Know About ADHD Meds and the Alternatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

IT\u2019S A CONFUSING<\/strong> time to have ADHD. There\u2019s misinformation: Of the 100 most-watched TikTok videos about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, about half contain falsehoods (think fearmongering about meds, claims based on personal experience rather than empirical data, and promotion of products not proven to work), according to a new PLOS One study<\/a>. There\u2019s access trouble: A recent Adderall shortage left millions struggling to refill prescriptions. And then there\u2019s the RFK factor: Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a government inquiry into the \u201cthreat\u201d posed by \u201cpoisonous\u201d drugs, like the prescription stimulants used to manage ADHD.<\/p>\n

But while doctors can\u2019t do anything about TikTok, they can ease concerns that drugs are the only way to treat your symptoms. Drug-free interventions are on the rise and can even complement pills by addressing organizational skills, emotional regulation, and stress management, says Javier Quintero, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist and an authority on treating ADHD. \u201cThey can also help to reduce the dosage of medication and, by focusing on practical and emotional competencies, significantly enhance day-to-day functioning and quality of life.\u201d Whether you want to go pharma-free or make your meds work better, consider these strategies.<\/p>\n

Double-Check Your Diagnosis <\/p>\n

SOUNDS BASIC, BUT<\/strong> first make sure you\u2019re treating the right problem. \u201cThe vast majority of adults who think they have ADHD do not have it,\u201d says Gregory Scott Brown, MD, a psychiatrist and Men\u2019s Health advisor. ADHD symptoms usually start before age 12, even if they go undetected until later. Yes, many guys struggle with focus, but often that\u2019s caused by burnout, depression, or anxiety. Your doctor can help you figure out what\u2019s up.<\/p>\n

Ask About New Meds <\/p>\n

STIMULANT, THE MOST<\/strong> popular ADHD meds, come in dozens of varieties. If you think your pills aren\u2019t working, or if you\u2019re worried about side effects, ask your doc about using a different one or changing the dose. Stimulants aren\u2019t the only options either. Viloxazine (Qelbree), a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (similar to Cymbalta, Pristiq, and Effexor), was approved by the FDA in 2022 for adult ADHD. Qelbree works differently than stimulants. It\u2019s believed to alter the levels of brain chemicals linked with ADHD. More options could be on the way. A promising one: \u201cCentanafadine, a triple reuptake inhibitor that targets serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine,\u201d says Dr. Quintero. Now in clinical trials, this drug seems to work as well as traditional stimulants, he says. <\/p>\n

Commit to Therapy <\/p>\n

\u201cTHE STARTING POINT<\/strong> for recommending any nonpharmacological approach should be a clear understanding of the patient\u2019s actual challenges\u2014identifying how ADHD impacts their daily life and translating that into concrete therapeutic goals,\u201d says Dr. Quintero. Doctors will most often recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) because it\u2019s proven to work in treating adult ADHD. Yes, this means regular sessions, but the potential payoff is huge. CBT can help you escape thought spirals, modify negative patterns of thinking, and even boost skills like time management, organization, and emotional regulation. <\/p>\n

So, say you\u2019re having trouble starting an assignment and your mind wanders to what doctors call an automatic thought\u2014a spontaneous, often recurring mental reflex: I can\u2019t seem to do anything right. Then you feel worthless and scroll social media for a mood boost. CBT would help you recognize the automatic thought and reframe it to something like: I\u2019m not working on my project because I have too much on my to-do list, but if I prioritize the top two tasks, then I might be more motivated to get started. \u201cIdentifying the thought can shift the domino effect to a place of less shame and more productivity,\u201d says Dr. Brown. <\/p>\n

If therapy sounds like not your style, consider an ADHD coach (a real thing), who can offer tips to help you get organized and follow through with plans. These coaches don\u2019t have to earn a state license, but you can find ones who are certified by groups (such as the Professional Association for ADHD Coaches) that require a combination of training, mentoring, experience, and a test.<\/p>\n

Double Down on Wellness <\/p>\n

THAT INCLUDES MEDITATION<\/strong>, which is a research-backed way to boost focus and improve emotional regulation\u2014but, yes, it\u2019s tough for people with ADHD. Try a structured meditation program in the form of an app like Headspace or Calm or a mindfulness class or workshop. <\/p>\n

If that sounds meh, try EndeavorOTC<\/a>, which offers tech-assisted cognitive stimulation through an FDA-authorized, video game\u2013like app. You navigate digital obstacle courses while pursuing multiple goals at once. One trial found that 83 percent of adults with ADHD who played six to eight times a day for five days a week improved their focus over six weeks.<\/p>\n

Actual exercise is great too. Physical activity helps increase inhibitory control\u2014the ability to overcome strong, automatic responses to stimuli\u2014in ADHD. In studies, intense cycling proved to be the best workout because the sport enhances thinking without increasing internal distractions. But any aerobic exercise can improve attention, working memory, and emotional regulation. All you need is just 20 minutes a day to see results\u2014way less than you may spend on TikTok, we\u2019re guessing?<\/p>\n

Related Stories\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Julie Stewart<\/a> is a writer, editor and content strategist with over a decade of experience translating complex topics \u2014 health and medicine, science and engineering \u2014 into engaging, accessible stories. Her work has appeared in publications like Men\u2019s Health, Women\u2019s Health, AARP The Magazine, EatingWell and Prevention, and she has also led strategic communications for a top engineering college and a global oncology company.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"IT\u2019S A CONFUSING time to have ADHD. There\u2019s misinformation: Of the 100 most-watched TikTok videos about attention deficit…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":90000,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[2874,59947,1201,210,2875,1060,59946,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-89999","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-content-type-how-to-service","9":"tag-contentid-785af999-fb6e-425a-8393-099305371e83","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-health","12":"tag-locale-us","13":"tag-medication","14":"tag-shorttitle-what-to-know-about-going-drug-free-for-adhd","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114911057425462868","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89999"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89999\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}