Why Best ADHD Medication For Adults With Anxiety Is A Lot More Risky Than You Think
Best ADHD Medication For Adults With Anxiety
Anxiety disorders can affect up to 50% of adults who have ADHD. Treatment strategies for both conditions include medication and therapy.
Stimulants can improve focus and attention. They work by keeping activated receptors in your brain "turned on" or "fired up." They often cause an increase in the heart rate.
Stimulants
When treating ADHD doctors typically begin with stimulants like methylphenidates or amphetamines. These drugs are effective in helping increase concentration and reduce the impulsivity. They can also alleviate anxiety in certain people by boosting norepinephrine levels. Most stimulant medications are controlled substances and can lead to addiction and abuse. However certain adults find that they are able to take them without issue. They can cause insomnia at first that could be due to a relapse of ADHD symptoms once the medication wears off or due to a change in sleep patterns. This can be lowered by taking the medication once a day, rather than three or four times, and by creating regular routines for sleeping.
Read Alot more can have negative side effects like an abrupt rise in blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and changes in sound or vision. They can also trigger anorexia and weight loss especially when taken in large doses. In addition, stimulants may cause a rise in mood lability in certain people and cause manic or psychotic symptoms appear. They are not recommended for people with bipolar disorder, or severe anorexia. Mood swings can occur when stimulants are suddenly stopped. In these situations it is crucial to gradually reduce the dose.
Medications to treat anxiety that aren't related to ADHD may be used for people with the disorder. For instance antidepressants like SSRIs such as Sertraline and Fluoxetine can sometimes help with ADHD-related anxiety and depression. These medications are often prescribed "off-label", for ADHD. Some doctors prescribe these medications for ADHD however, research in the field doesn't support this usage.
Non-stimulant medications for ADHD are slower to take effect but they can aid in reducing impulsivity and improve focus. They are less likely than stimulants to trigger an increase in heart rate or agitation since they do not increase the amount of norepinephrine in the brain. Drugs that belong to this class of drugs include strattera (atomoxetine), clonidine (Kapvay and Intuniv) and guanfacine ER (Intuniv and Tenex).
Combinations of strategies, including behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medications, can be used to treat ADHD and anxiety. The most effective treatment for anxiety and ADHD is a combination medication and behavioral therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapies, for example, teach skills that reduce anxiety, such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and calming techniques. Certain children with ADHD also struggle with anxiety, and in those instances, the most effective strategy is to treat the ADHD first, then to prescribe an SSRI for anxiety. This will allow the child to be more focused in school and experience fewer anxiety-related symptoms related to ADHD. It is crucial to regularly attend therapy sessions to reap the maximum benefits. A doctor might prescribe a different psychiatric medication to treat anxiety if necessary. This could be a tricyclic medication, like Tofranil. If anxiety is not addressed, it may hinder the ability of a child to benefit from therapy. It is important to establish the correct diagnosis and the treatment right the first time.