Neurofeedback is a practice devised to optimize the electrical activity within a person’s brain a.k.a. adjust their brain waves. It is based on the premise that abnormal electrical activity in certain regions of the brain may contribute to various psychological conditions and may compromise mental performance. The goal of neurofeedback is to correct electrical abnormalities …
Guanfacine is a drug that was developed primarily for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). It has been proven as an effective medication to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure via its effect on Alpha-2 adrenergic autoreceptors. It functions by stimulating these receptors (as an agonist) and reducing activation of the sympathetic nervous …
Clonidine is a drug that is commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure. Clonidine is also commonly used as a treatment for anxiety and as an intervention to minimize drug withdrawal symptoms. On occasion, it is prescribed off-label for the treatment of PTSD, borderline personality disorder, stress, and insomnia. It functions primarily as an Alpha-2 …
Dexedrine is a psychostimulant drug primarily used to treat severe cases of ADHD and narcolepsy. The active ingredient in Dexedrine is “dextroamphetamine” which is regarded as the “right-handed” stereoisomer of the molecule amphetamine. Dextroamphetamine is considered a popular military stimulant, and has been utilized throughout history such as in World War II to offset fatigue …
Methylphenidate is considered the first medication approved for the treatment of the condition known as “hyperactivity” in the 1960s. As attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder gained more mainstream attention in the 1990s, the number of diagnoses continued to skyrocket, increasing the demand for new treatments. By the year 1996, mixed amphetamine salts (i.e. Adderall) were approved for the …
Provigil (modafinil) is a drug that was approved in 1998 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. It has since been granted FDA approval for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea as well as shift work sleep disorder. Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) is a psychostimulant drug that was initially approved in 1996 …
Concerta is a medication that was approved in August 2000 for the treatment of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) in children. Since its initial approval as an ADHD medication for children, it has attained FDA approval for usage in adolescents (2004) and adults (2008) with ADHD. Although Concerta is technically a newer drug than Adderall, the …