15 Surprising Facts About Medication For ADHD
Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same drugs that treat ADHD can be used to treat anxiety. The stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine increase levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain. Nonstimulants like atomoxetine and antidepressants may also help.
In some cases stimulant medications can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, then your doctor may recommend another medication or switch medications.
Stimulants
People with ADHD and anxiety are frequently prescribed stimulants. They are believed to ease the symptoms of both ADHD and anxiety by increasing the brain's natural production of dopamine. a neurotransmitter that promotes concentration, reduces impulsivity and helps with motivation and memory.
The stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and amphetamines work by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, which helps keep their levels higher in the brain. This improves focus and decreases the tendency to be impulsive, making it easier to manage anger and other emotions that cause anxiety to become worse.
However, stimulants can have an unexpected side effect that can trigger symptoms of anxiety. They can also cause sleep issues, which means you or your child could struggle to get enough restful sleep. Additionally, they may cause a decrease in appetite, which can cause problems with eating enough food for healthy growth. Many people also experience tics which are sudden movements or sound like eye blinks and throat clearing. These side effects, although common, can be reduced or eliminated with a few simple techniques.
It's important to keep in mind that every person reacts differently to stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. It might take some trial and error with different dosages, medications and schedules to find the right combination that is effective for you or your child.
Your doctor will take into account your specific symptoms and lifestyle when developing an appropriate treatment plan. They may recommend a treatment to reduce anxiety and monitor your response with medication to determine the best solutions for you.
Medications used to treat anxiety can interact with other ADHD medications. Adderall for instance, can exacerbate anxiety in children who have both ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants can alter the way the brain processes information regarding potential threats from both the external and internal environment.
This doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety can't be treated in tandem. mouse click the following webpage 's also possible that treating ADHD symptoms can help reduce anxiety, too, since they may reduce the amount of anxiety-inducing situations and conflicts that children with untreated ADHD confront.
In general, psychostimulants appear to be effective in reducing both ADHD and anxiety in several studies. They tend to be more effective in treating both disorders than conventional antianxiety medication. It's possible that the reduction of anxiety associated with psychostimulants is due to the improvement in ADHD symptoms, rather than the drug itself.