Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same drugs that treat ADHD can be used to treat anxiety. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine boost levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain. Nonstimulants like atomoxetine and antidepressants can also aid.
In some instances stimulant medications can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, your doctor might prescribe a different medication or even switch your medications completely.
Stimulants
Stimulants are typically the treatment of choice for those with ADHD who also have anxiety. They are believed to help with both ADHD and anxiety as they increase the brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps to improve concentration and reduces the impulsivity. It also aids in motivation and memory.
Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate and amphetamines work by blocking the reuptake process of norepinephrine and dopamine, thereby keeping their levels higher in the brain. This improves concentration and decreases impulse-driven behavior which makes it easier to manage anger and other emotions that could cause anxiety to become worse.
However, stimulants can cause an an unexpected side effect as they can cause an increase in symptoms of anxiety. Your child or you may also have difficulty getting enough sleep. In addition, they could reduce appetite, which can hinder eating enough to support healthy growth. Some people experience tics as well that are sudden movements or sounds like blinking eyes and clearing of the throat. managing adhd without medication , although frequent, can be lowered or eliminated with some simple methods.
It's important to remember that each person responds differently to stimulants and non-stimulant ADHD medications. It could take a bit of trial and error to determine the best combination of medications dosages, schedules, and dosages for you or your children.
Your doctor will take into account your particular issues and lifestyle when creating the treatment plan. They may suggest treatments to ease anxiety and will monitor your response with medications to determine the most effective treatment options for you.
Certain ADHD medications may interact with medications for treating anxiety. Adderall, for example can cause anxiety in children with both ADHD and anxiety. This is because psychostimulants can alter the way that the brain processes information about possible threats within the internal and external environments and it's possible they may hinder this normal process.
However, this doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety cannot be treated in tandem. It's possible that treating ADHD symptoms can also reduce anxiety. Read the Full Posting is because they may reduce the number and intensity of anxiety-inducing situations that children with ADHD confront.
Psychostimulants are generally found to be effective in reducing both ADHD and anxiety in several studies. They tend to be more effective for both disorders than conventional antianxiety medication. It's possible that the decrease in anxiety that psychostimulants provide is a direct result of the improvement of ADHD symptoms, rather than an interaction directly with the drug.