How Stimulants Work to Reduce ADHD Symptoms

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How the Brain Works

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.

How Stimulants Work

As a result, more neurotransmitter is held in the 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.

Stimulant medicationsdon’t cure ADHD. Rather, they reduce symptoms while they are active in your system.

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.

The differences in the way stimulants work may explain why some people with ADHD respond to one type ofstimulant medicationbetter than another.

Methylphenidate

Common methylphenidate-based stimulants include:

Amphetamines

Amphetamines (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.

Some amphetamine-based stimulants include:

Managing Side Effects of ADHD Medications

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kolar D, Keller A, Golfinopoulos M, Cumyn L, Syer C, Hechtman L.Treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2008;4(2):389-403. doi:10.2147/ndt.s6985Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, et al.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Kollins SH, et al.Evaluating Dopamine Reward Pathway in ADHD: Clinical Implications.JAMA. 2009;302(10):1084-1091. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1308Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Stimulant Therapy. Updated February 23, 2016.Guzman F.Methylphenidate for ADHD: Mechanism of Action and Formulations. Psychopharmacology Institute. Updated June 27, 2019.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kolar D, Keller A, Golfinopoulos M, Cumyn L, Syer C, Hechtman L.Treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2008;4(2):389-403. doi:10.2147/ndt.s6985Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, et al.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Kollins SH, et al.Evaluating Dopamine Reward Pathway in ADHD: Clinical Implications.JAMA. 2009;302(10):1084-1091. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1308Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Stimulant Therapy. Updated February 23, 2016.Guzman F.Methylphenidate for ADHD: Mechanism of Action and Formulations. Psychopharmacology Institute. Updated June 27, 2019.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Kolar D, Keller A, Golfinopoulos M, Cumyn L, Syer C, Hechtman L.Treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2008;4(2):389-403. doi:10.2147/ndt.s6985Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, et al.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Kollins SH, et al.Evaluating Dopamine Reward Pathway in ADHD: Clinical Implications.JAMA. 2009;302(10):1084-1091. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1308

Kolar D, Keller A, Golfinopoulos M, Cumyn L, Syer C, Hechtman L.Treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2008;4(2):389-403. doi:10.2147/ndt.s6985

Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, et al.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627

Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Kollins SH, et al.Evaluating Dopamine Reward Pathway in ADHD: Clinical Implications.JAMA. 2009;302(10):1084-1091. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1308

Cleveland Clinic.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Stimulant Therapy. Updated February 23, 2016.Guzman F.Methylphenidate for ADHD: Mechanism of Action and Formulations. Psychopharmacology Institute. Updated June 27, 2019.

Cleveland Clinic.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Stimulant Therapy. Updated February 23, 2016.

Guzman F.Methylphenidate for ADHD: Mechanism of Action and Formulations. Psychopharmacology Institute. Updated June 27, 2019.

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