5 Best ADHD Medication For Adults With Anxiety And Depression Lessons From The Professionals
How to Choose the Best ADHD Medication for Adults With Anxiety and Depression
If a person suffers from both ADHD and anxiety or depression treating one condition usually improves the other. Mental health professionals often prescribe antidepressants or stimulants for depression along with an ADHD medication.
Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants prescribed "off-label" for ADHD. These medications increase the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, and improve concentration.
1. Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate is also known under the brand name Ritalin is the first-choice treatment for adults suffering from ADHD and depression or anxiety. It's part of a class of medicines known as central nervous system stimulants and works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances within your brain. It is available in the form of a liquid, chewable tablet, or an extended-release capsule. It is able to be administered via the skin.
It is not unusual for people with ADHD to have co-occurring mood disorders such as depression or anxiety. It is crucial to tell your doctor if you suffer from depression or anxiety because certain medications, including stimulants, can cause them to get worse. In some cases, you may need to take an anti-anxiety medication and a stimulant medication.
Methylphenidate can cause headaches as well as stomachaches. It may also raise your blood pressure and heart rate, so you should keep regular appointments with your physician to monitor these. It can also cause facial ticks (uncontrollable rapid movements of the face). It should not be taken by those with a genetic condition called Phenylketonuria. These people have difficulty processing the chemical phenylalanine. It is also unsafe to take during pregnancy or nursing, so let your doctor know if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
You must not operate or drive machinery while taking methylphenidate. It can cause blurred vision, dizziness and sleepiness. It is important to drink plenty of fluids when you take it. If you have problems taking tablets, ask your doctor about extended-release capsules or oral disintegrating tablets. Do not crush or chew on these medications. If you're having trouble eating solid food, ask your doctor about liquid medicines that can be mixed into soft foods or drinks like applesauce, yogurt, or pudding.
2. Lisdexamfetamine
Lisdexamfetamine is a medication in the central nervous system stimulant family. It affects the levels of certain natural substances within the brain. It is used to treat ADHD in children and adults who are six years old and up. It can also be used to treat binge eating disorders in adults.
Adults with ADHD often have comorbid depression and anxiety disorders. Treatment for these disorders is essential to aid people in feeling better and perform at their best at work and home. Certain medication that treat mental illnesses can interact negatively with ADHD medication. It is important to be honest about any other medical issues.
Depression and anxiety can be complex because they both have a wide range of symptoms. Some antidepressants, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) or Effexor (venlafaxine) are frequently used to treat these conditions and may increase focus and concentration in those suffering from ADHD/ADHD. They help by increasing certain neurotransmitters inside the brain. They are safe for abuse and misuse.
The medication showed promising results in studies that involved adults with ADHD, anxiety or depression. It helped improve ADHD ratings as well as executive function and ADHD ratings. It was also safe for use.
It is crucial to inform your doctor if taking any other medication, including MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan) or linezolid (Zyvox), Methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and the tranylcypromine (Parnate). These medicines should not be used for 14 days following the use of lisdexamfetamine. You should also let your doctor know if are allergic to lisdexamfetamine, or any other ingredient in the medication.
3. Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine, also referred to as Strattera, is a nonstimulant ADHD medication that is used to treat depression. It is believed to work by preventing the reuptake of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter. By boosting levels of this chemical in the brain, the drug enhances alertness and reduces anxiety and depression symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that this medication is not recommended as a standalone treatment for anxiety disorders. Instead it is recommended that an individual seek treatment from a licensed psychotherapist or psychiatrist.
There have been a myriad of studies conducted to evaluate the effects of atomoxetine in patients suffering from ADHD and anxiety disorders. These studies comprise nine controlled studies that are randomized as well as two post-hoc analyses of subgroups. In most cases, both symptom improvement and cognition function were better measured with atomoxetine than placebo. It is important to remember that the sample size of these studies was small.
The medication can also cause a few side effects, such as abdominal pain as well as a high heart rate. These side effects are usually minor and do not affect everyone who takes this medication. Some people who use Atomoxetine have had thoughts of suicide. These thoughts were reported in short-term clinical trials involving adolescents and children who took the drug. These trials did not lead to suicides.
As with stimulants, atomoxetine could be effective in treating co-occurring ADHD and anxiety. In fact, in an investigation of adults suffering from ADHD and social anxiety disorder, atomoxetine outperformed an placebo. This is a promising outcome that suggests this medication may be effective in treating ADHD and anxiety when used in conjunction with other treatments for both disorders. Further research is needed to determine if atomoxetine can also be used effectively for other forms of anxiety disorders that are comorbid.
4. Bupropion
Bupropion, a drug that is not stimulant, increases the amount of noradrenaline that is found in the brain. This chemical is responsible for transmitting messages between brain cells. Increasing it can help with concentration and impulse control. The drug is typically prescribed in capsule form and taken once or twice daily by your physician. It's also associated with more serious side effects, such as suicidal thoughts and liver damage.
Anxiety is a disorder that can cause extreme fear and restlessness. add in adults medication can cause symptoms like stomachaches, headaches and breath shortness, and feelings such as anxiety or dread. People with anxiety disorders often struggle to control their symptoms, despite efforts to manage them.
Some people suffering from ADHD may also experience anxiety. The condition can lead to emotional and relationship problems and low self-esteem. If not treated, ADHD symptoms, such as inattention and impulsiveness, could cause feelings of frustration and inability.
Nonstimulants such as atomoxetine, Qelbree and lisdexamfetamine (methylphenidate) can also assist to ease anxiety symptoms. High blood pressure medications such as Clonidine (Kapvay) and guanfacine, (Intuniv or Tenex) can also be used to treat ADHD in adults. However, these medications differ from stimulants.
Antidepressants can be prescribed by your doctor to treat ADHD. They may be prescribed on their own or in combination with stimulants. However they aren't typically prescribed to adolescents and children. Psychotherapy is a second option for treatment. Talking to a mental health professional can be effective in treating anxiety as well as ADHD. Changing your routine and lifestyle can help manage these disorders. For instance, you could try meditation or yoga, managing your stress and sleep patterns, and including exercise into your daily routine.
5. Tricyclic antidepressants
In some instances, a mental health professional may suggest antidepressants as part of your treatment program. They aren't approved by the FDA to treat ADHD but they may occasionally improve symptoms of depression and anxiety when taken in conjunction with stimulants. Antidepressants increase serotonin levels as well as norepinephrine production in the brain. They can therefore help to reduce anxiety as well as depressive symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, like fluoxetine(Prozac), citalopram(Celexa), and escitalopram(Lexapro) can increase the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain to boost your mood and reduce anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors -- such as mirtazapine (Remeron) and nefazodone (Serzone) -- also lift your mood by increasing the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin that your brain's chemical messengers release. Tricyclic antidepressants, named after the three rings in their chemical structure, were originally created as antipsychotics but were later discovered to possess powerful antidepressant properties. These drugs include imipramine (Tofranil) and amitriptyline (Elavil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor).
Tricyclics also decrease a person's sensitivity to noise, improve sleep quality and lower blood pressure. Tricyclics can cause sleepiness. The people who are taking them should not operate machinery or drive until they are sure of how they will react to the medication.
Exercise and resting enough and eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains could all help improve ADHD and anxiety symptoms. Mindfulness practices and other forms of therapy like cognitive behavior therapy can also reduce stress and boost happiness. If you're struggling with managing your anxiety and ADHD, Klarity can connect you with licensed professionals for convenient, insurance-free online mental health care. Find out more and schedule an appointment today.