兴奋剂如何工作to Reduce ADHD Symptoms

兴奋剂是用于治疗ADHD的最常见的药物类型。他们通过增加大脑中某些化学品的可用性来工作，从而使大脑中的途径更有效地工作。刺激剂在70％到80％的人中减少了ADHD症状。

How the Brain Works

我们的脑子由称为神经细胞组成神经元那which are separated by tiny gaps called synapses. All brain and nervous system functions are based on how these neurons communicate across synapses. The neurons relay information to each other by sending chemical messengers or神经递质across the synapses throughout the neural network.

神经递质在神经元内产生。神经元释放神经递质，它进入Synapse。然后可以通过在称为受体的位点处附着的下一个神经元接受神经递质，从而将来自一个神经细胞的信息传送到整个脑中的另一个。

In order for these pathways to work effectively so that the message gets through, the neuron must produce and release enough of the neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter must also stay in the synapse long enough for it to bind to the receptor site.

在释放神经递质后，然后由产生它的神经元重新吸收过量的部分。有时似乎在患有ADHD的个体中发生的是神经递质过早地重新吸收到神经元中。发生这种情况时，神经网络的该部分不能以足够的方式中继信息。

兴奋剂如何工作

Dopamine and norepinephrine play a key role in the areas of the brain responsible for regulating attention andexecutive function。兴奋剂用药减少了ADHD症状通过增加大脑中的多巴胺水平。它通过减慢多巴胺被重新吸收到神经网络中的多少来实现这一点。

因此,在更多的神经递质synapse between neurons long enough for it to properly bind to the receptor, helping messages within the brain be more effectively transmitted and received. This improves activity and communication in those parts of the brain which operate on dopamine and norepinephrine and signal for specific tasks.

Brain imaging studies have demonstrated that when you're on stimulant medication, there's increased metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex, specific subcortical regions, and the cerebellum—all important centers for executive function. These areas of the brain appear more active when neurotransmitter levels are elevated.

兴奋剂工作方式的差异可以解释为什么有些人与ADHD响应一种类型的人兴奋剂用药比另一个好。

甲基苯胺

研究表明，通过阻断大脑中的多巴胺和去甲肾上腺素的再摄取多巴胺，甲基酚甲酯增加了多巴胺水平。也就是说，它会减少肌递质的重新吸收到神经元中的大量，以便在突触中留下更多。它还促进了从神经元内释放的多巴胺释放，这将更多地发送到突触中。

常见的基于甲基酚的兴奋剂包括：

• Concerta（甲基酚延长释放片剂）
• Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)
• Metadate (methylphenidate hydrochloride)
• rialin(methylphenidate)

安非胺类

安非胺类(another type of stimulant medication) mostly increase the release of dopamine and norepinephrine from their storage sites into the synapse. A less significant mechanism of amphetamines is slowing the reuptake of the neurotransmitters.

常见的基于安非他明的兴奋剂包括：

• Adderall（Amphetamine右氧芬胺）
• Vyvanse(lisdexamfetamine dimesylate)