The Time Has Come To Expand Your Best ADHD Medication For Adults With Anxiety Options
The Time Has Come To Expand Your Best ADHD Medication For Adults With Anxiety Options
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Best ADHD Medication For Adults With Anxiety
Up to 50% of adults with ADHD also suffer from anxiety disorders. Treatment strategies for both conditions include medication as well as therapy.
Stimulants are effective in enhancing attention and focus. They work by keeping receptors that are already "fired up" in your brain "turned-on". They may cause tics and raise your heart rate.
Stimulants
Stimulants, like methylphenidates and amphetamines, are the first drugs doctors will typically try in treating ADHD. These drugs work quickly to enhance focus and reduce the amount of impulsivity. They can reduce anxiety in some people by boosting norepinephrine levels. Most stimulant medications are controlled substances, and are prone to addiction and abuse. Some adults can tolerate them quite well. Initial insomnia may be caused by the drug wearing off or a change in sleeping patterns. This can be minimized by taking the drug only once a day, rather than three or four times, and by creating regular sleep routines.
Stimulants can trigger negative side effects like an abrupt rise in blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and changes in vision or sound. They may also trigger weight loss or anorexia particularly when used in high doses. They can also increase mood instability in certain people and can cause psychotic or manic-like symptoms to develop. They are not recommended for people with Tourette's disorder, bipolar disorder or severe anorexia. The mood swings can also occur when stimulants are abruptly stopped. In these instances it is crucial to gradually reduce the dosage.
People suffering from ADHD may be prescribed medications to help treat anxiety. Antidepressants like Sertraline or Fluoxetine, for example are able to help with depression and anxiety that are related to ADHD. These medicines are usually prescribed "off-label" for ADHD. Some doctors prescribe them to treat ADHD, but this use is not supported by medical research.
Non-stimulant ADHD medications take longer to act, but they can reduce the impulsivity of children read more and improve attention. They do not alter the amount of norepinephrine present in the brain as significantly as stimulants, and they are less likely to trigger rapid heart rate or cause agitation. Drugs that belong to this class of drugs include strattera (atomoxetine) as well as Clonidine (Kapvay and Intuniv) and guanfacine in ER (Intuniv and Tenex).
Combinations of strategies, like behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medications are a viable option to treat ADHD and anxiety. Research has demonstrated that the most effective treatment is using a combination of medications and behavioral therapy.
For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps teach skills that can help reduce a person's anxiety like deep breathing, mindfulness meditation and calming techniques. Certain children with ADHD also suffer from anxiety. In those instances, the best approach is to treat the ADHD first, and then prescribe an SSRI for anxiety. This will help the child focus better at school and suffer less anxiety that is related to ADHD. To achieve the best results, it is important to attend therapy sessions regularly. A doctor could prescribe a different psychiatric medication to treat anxiety if necessary. It could be a tricyclic antidepressant like Tofranil. If anxiety isn't treated, it can affect a child's capacity to participate in therapy and benefit from it. It is crucial to establish the correct diagnosis and the treatment right the first time.