Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
Treatments for ADHD generally work well for anxiety, too. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine can boost the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Nonstimulants like atomoxetine and antidepressants could also be helpful.
In some cases stimulant medications may cause an increase in anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, then your doctor may recommend a different medication or switch to another.
Stimulants
People suffering from ADHD and anxiety are often prescribed stimulants. These drugs are believed to help with both ADHD and anxiety because they increase brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which promotes concentration and decreases the impulsivity. It also helps with motivation and memory.
The stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and amphetamines block the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, thereby keeping their levels higher in the brain. This improves concentration and decreases the tendency to be impulsive, making it easier to manage anger and other emotions that cause anxiety.
However, stimulants can also have an unexpected side effects as they can cause an increase in anxiety symptoms. Your child or you may also be struggling to get enough sleep. They can also reduce appetite, which can hinder in eating enough food to ensure healthy growth. Some people suffer from tics as well, which are sudden sound or movement, such as blinking eyes and clearing of the throat. These effects, though frequent, can be lowered or eliminated using some simple methods.
It is important to keep in mind that each person responds differently to stimulants and non-stimulant ADHD medications. It might require some trial and error with different dosages, schedules and medications to find the right combination that is effective for you or your child.
When creating a treatment plan, your healthcare provider will consider your individual symptoms and your lifestyle. They will likely recommend an approach to lessen anxiety and will monitor your reaction to medications to determine the most effective options 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. non prescription adhd medication uk can alter the way that the brain processes information regarding potential threats from the external and internal environment.
This doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety can't be treated in conjunction. It's also possible that reducing ADHD symptoms can help reduce anxiety, too, since they may reduce the amount of stressful situations and conflicts that children who are not treated for ADHD confront.
Psychostimulants are generally found to be effective in reducing both ADHD and anxiety in a number of studies. They're usually more efficient than traditional antianxiety drugs for both disorders. It's possible that the decrease in anxiety seen with psychostimulants is a direct result of the improvement of ADHD symptoms, not an actual interaction with the drug.