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NEUROTRANSMITTERS

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages from one neuron to another. Human brain comprises 50 neurotransmitters that connect separated billions of nerve cells in the brain. Neurotransmitters can directly or indirectly affect neurons of the brain, affecting behavior. Norepinephrine and dopamine are neurotransmitters responsible for ADHD. While norepinephrine is exicitatory neurotransmiters, dopamine is inhibitor. ADHD are caused by imbalances between the two and play a large role in attention and focus.

The picture and the following process depict the mechnism of impulse transmission taken from mental disorder encyclopedia:

Neurotransmitters are chemical that transmit messages from one nerve cell (neuron) to another. The never impulse travels fro the first nerve cell through the axon-a single smooth body arising from the nerve cell-to the axon terminal and the synaptic knobs. Each synaptic know bommunicates with a dendrite or cell body of another neuron, and the synaptic knobs contain neurovesicles that store and release neurotransmitters. The synapse lies between the the synaptic knob and the next cell. For the impulse to continue traveling across the synapse to reach the next cell, the synaptic knobs release the neurotransmitter into that space, and the next nerve cell is stimulated to pick up the impulse and continue it.

Understanding of the mechanism can help prescription of medication for ADHD. Based on Wikipedia an ADHD patient requires psychostimulant medications such as asmethylphenidae (Ritalin/Concerta), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and Adderall (a mixture of dextroaphetaine and racemic amphetamine salts) to help increase levels of norepinephrine and dopamine.

Not much do I know about ADHD and the medication used to treat the patient. I hold strongly to the view that I wont use any medication for my son.