Best ADHD Medication For Adults With Anxiety
Anxiety disorders can affect up to 50 percent of adults with ADHD. Treatment strategies for both conditions include medication as well as therapy.
Stimulants can be effective in improving attention and focus. They work by keeping activated receptors in your brain "turned on" or "fired up." They often cause an increase in your heart rate slightly.
Stimulants
When treating ADHD the doctors usually begin with stimulants like methylphenidates or amphetamines. They work quickly to increase concentration and reduce impulsivity. They can reduce anxiety in certain people by boosting norepinephrine levels. Most stimulant medications are controlled substances and can lead to dependence and abuse. Some adults are tolerant of them. They can cause insomnia at first, which may be due to a relapse of ADHD symptoms after the medication is taken off or to a change in sleep patterns. This can be minimized by taking the medication only once a day, instead of three or four times, and also by developing regular routines for sleeping.
Stimulants can have negative side effects like an abrupt rise in blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and changes in sound or vision. They can also cause anorexia and weight loss particularly when taken in high doses. They can also increase mood instability in some individuals and trigger psychotic or manic-like symptoms to develop. They are contraindicated for people with Tourette’s disorder, bipolar disorders or severe anorexia. Mood swings can also occur when stimulants suddenly more info stopped. In these situations it is essential to gradually decrease in the dosage.
People suffering from ADHD might be prescribed medication to manage anxiety. For example, antidepressants such as SSRIs like Sertraline and Fluoxetine can sometimes help with ADHD-related anxiety and depression. These drugs are typically prescribed "off-label" for ADHD. Some doctors prescribe them to treat ADHD however, medical research doesn't support this usage.
Non-stimulant ADHD medicines are slower to act, but they can reduce the impulsivity of children and improve the amount of attention. They are less likely than stimulants to trigger agitation or rapid heart rate, as they do not increase the levels of norepinephrine that is present in the brain. Drugs that belong to this class of drugs include strattera (atomoxetine), Clonidine (Kapvay and Intuniv) and guanfacine in ER (Intuniv and Tenex).
Combinations of strategies, like behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medications can be employed to treat ADHD and anxiety. Research has proven that the most effective treatment is the combination of medication and behavioral therapy.
For instance, cognitive-behavioral therapy assists in teaching skills that can aid in reducing anxiety like deep breathing, mindfulness meditation and techniques for calming. Certain children with ADHD also struggle with anxiety. In those instances, the most effective strategy 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 related to ADHD. To get the best results it is crucial to keep attending therapy sessions regularly. A doctor might prescribe a psychiatric drug to treat anxiety when needed. This may be a tricyclic antidepressant, like Tofranil. If anxiety is not treated, it can interfere with a child's ability to participate in therapy and gain benefit from it. It is essential to get the diagnosis right and the treatment right the first time.