Why are stimulants used to treat ADHD?

Stimulants are the most common medications used to treat ADHD. Studies show that they are the most effective medications for treating ADHD in children and adolescents. When stimulant treatment is conducted carefully, it can reduce ADHD symptoms in the majority of children with ADHD. It is commonly used for adults with ADHD, but fewer adults than children appear to gain benefit from stimulant treatment. Stimulant medication appears to work by altering the availability of particular brain chemicals or neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine) in regions of the brain involved with behaviour inhibition, impulse control, attention and working memory. ... more