When ADHD medications are working, the individual may experience:

• More control over one’s own attention, where it goes, how long it stays there
• An easier time getting started on tasks (big ones and small ones)
• A bit more tolerance for the boring but necessary things in life
• Help to enhance the “reward value” of non-preferred tasks
• Improved working memory, ability to hold on to mental to-do lists 
• Improved convergent attention, making it easier to focus on just one thing at a time

How ADHD medications work

• ADHD medications work by increasing the availability of dopamine and/or norepinephrine within the frontal lobe networks of the brain (the networks involved executive functioning) (Purper-Ouakil et al., 2011, Pediatric Research) (Arnsten, 2009, Journal of Pediatrics).
• By decreasing the “noise” and increasing the “signal” within the frontal lobe network connections, ADHD medications can help to improve the “self-management” aspect of executive functioning, improving communication between the frontal lobe and the posterior aspects of the brain.
• Ritalin and Adderall are the two main stimulant medications. They both have the same end result, which is more dopamine in the synapse (space between two neurons). They have different mechanisms of action. Ritalin is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, so it binds to the dopamine receptors on the receiving neuron, resulting in less dopamine leaving the synapse. Adderall is a dopamine agonist, so it results in increased production of dopamine, resulting in more dopamine going into the synapse.
• The main non-stimulant medications for ADHD result in higher norepinephrine levels, also an important neurochemical in the frontal lobe’s executive function networks. 
• Stimulant medications are usually the first-line approach to treatment of ADHD, for two reasons:
  • They have a higher efficacy rate (about 75% likelihood of being effective)
  • They have a short half-life, such that they are effective within about an hour of taking them and then gone from the system about 10-12 hours later, which means it is easy to do a short trial of the medication, and make changes quickly if needed.

ADHD medications work by changing the chemistry of the brain, boosting dopamine levels so that the frontal lobe can be more effective. The neurochemical effects of the medications are temporary, but the beneficial behavioral and neuroanatomical effects of positive behavior change and habit formation can be longstanding.

In sum, the goal of using medication to help support a person living with ADHD is to help them be a more authentic version of themselves, to let the logistics of life be a little bit easier so that they can direct their energy to the things they love.