What's Holding Back The Medication For ADHD Industry?
Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same medications that treat ADHD can be used to treat anxiety. The stimulants methylphenidate, amphetamine can boost the levels of certain brain neurotransmitters. Antidepressants as well as nonstimulants like atomoxetine may also help.
In some cases stimulant medications can cause anxiety to worsen. If this is the case, then your doctor may recommend a different medication or switch medications.
Stimulants
People suffering from ADHD and anxiety are frequently prescribed stimulants. These drugs are believed to aid in the treatment of ADHD and anxiety by increasing the brain's natural production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes concentration, decreases impulsivity and improves motivation and memory.
Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate and amphetamines block the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, which helps keep their levels higher in the brain. This improves concentration and decreases the tendency to be impulsive which makes it easier to control anger and other emotions that could cause anxiety.
They can also cause unintended effects which is that they occasionally increase anxiety symptoms. They can also cause sleep problems, so you or your child might struggle to get enough restful sleep. Additionally, they may cause a decrease in appetite, which can interfere with eating enough for healthy growth. Certain people experience the tics, which are sudden sound or movement, such as blinking eyes and clearing of the throat. Although adhd sleep medication are common they can be controlled or eliminated by some simple strategies.
It's important to remember that every person reacts differently to stimulants and non-stimulant ADHD medications. It might take a bit of trial and error to determine the best combination of medications dosages, schedules, and dosages for your child or yourself.
When determining the treatment plan, your healthcare provider will take into account your specific symptoms and life style. They will likely recommend an approach to lessen anxiety and will monitor your reaction to medication to determine the best solutions for you.
Some ADHD medications can interact with medications used to treat anxiety. Adderall for instance can cause anxiety in children with both ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants can alter the way the brain processes information regarding possible threats from both the external and internal environment.
This does not mean that ADHD and anxiety cannot be treated in conjunction. It's also possible that treating ADHD symptoms could decrease anxiety as they may reduce the amount of anxiety-provoking situations and conflicts that children with untreated ADHD face.
Psychostimulants are generally found to be effective in reducing both ADHD and anxiety in a variety of studies. They tend to be more effective for both disorders than traditional antianxiety medications. It's possible that the reduction of anxiety associated with psychostimulants is due to the improvement in ADHD symptoms, not the substance itself.