There are two mainstream classes of medications for ADHD: stimulants and non-stimulants. The stimulants are separated into methylphenidate derivatives (e.g. Ritalin) and mixed amphetamine salts. Those are further divided into short acting and long acting. There is no established way to determine what the best medication for an individual patient will be. The rule of thumb is to start at low dose of one, work up, and watch for side effects. If one medication is not effective, another should be tried. A patient may have negative or poor results on one, but good results on another. All of the stimulant medications have a similar side effect profile, with the most prominent side effects being appetite loss, sleep disruption, headaches, abdominal pain, and sometimes sedation-like effects. The non-stimulant medications are sometimes used alone and sometimes used with stimulant meds. It is critical when considering treatment for ADHD that the diagnosis be confirmed, that diet and lifestyle (sleep, exercise, etc) factors be optimized, and that screening is done for other disorders that may mimic adhd (like post traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder). Working with a physician in person over time is critical to proper management. Some supplements may also be helpful.