Eli5: Why is the medical treatment for people with ADHD/ADD often a stimulant?

Question

So, being a young adult with a suspicion of having some sort of the aforementioned, I’ve read that the treatment involves medicine of the stimulant sort.

Wouldn’t that make the underlying anxiety and restlessness worse? Or is it some sort of “shove” to artificial motivation, like making an old engine start up? Thanks in advance.

In: Biology

Answer 1

First, it isn’t a PARADOXICAL effect. Those are *unintended* and *unexpected* when they are seen. You don’t purposefully prescribe anything for this effect, ever.

Second, Here’s a good write up about why stimulants are used for ADD/ADHD:

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-do-stimulants-for-adhd-work-20895