Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
Treatments for ADHD are often effective for anxiety, too. The stimulants methylphenidate, amphetamine increase levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Nonstimulants such as atomoxetine and antidepressants can also aid.
In certain instances, stimulant medication can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, your doctor might prescribe a different medication or switch medications altogether.
Stimulants
People suffering from ADHD and anxiety are typically prescribed stimulants. These medications are thought to aid in the treatment of ADHD and anxiety by increasing the brain's natural production of dopamine, an neurotransmitter that improves 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 reduces impulsive behaviors, making it easier for you to control anger and other emotions that can make anxiety worse.
They can also cause unintended effects for instance, they can sometimes increase anxiety symptoms. adhd anxiety medication can also cause sleep issues, which means you or your child might have trouble getting enough restful sleep. In addition, they could decrease appetite, which could hinder eating enough to support healthy growth. Certain people experience the tics that are sudden movements or sounds, such as blinking of the eyes or clearing of the throat. While these effects are common they can be controlled or eliminated by some simple strategies.
It's important to remember that every person reacts differently to stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. It may require some trial and error with various dosages, schedules and medications to find the right combination that works for you or your child.
When creating a treatment plan, your healthcare provider will take into account your individual symptoms and your lifestyle. adhd and anxiety medication 'll likely recommend a therapy to address anxiety and monitor the response of your medication to determine which options are the best for you.
Certain ADHD medications can interact with medication used to treat anxiety. For instance, Adderall can make anxiety worse for children who have co-occurring ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants could 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 can't be treated together. It's possible that treating ADHD symptoms can also help reduce anxiety. This is because they may reduce the frequency and intensity of anxiety-inducing situations that children with ADHD have to deal with.
Psychostimulants are generally found to be effective in reducing both ADHD and anxiety in several studies. They tend to be more effective in treating both disorders than conventional antianxiety medication. It's possible that the reduction in anxiety that psychostimulants provide is a direct result of the improvement in ADHD symptoms, and not an interaction directly with the drug.