Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same drugs that treat ADHD can be used to treat anxiety. Drugs like amphetamine or methylphenidate increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters within the brain. adhd and medication as nonstimulants like atomoxetine may also help.
In some instances stimulant medications can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. If this is the case your doctor may prescribe another medication or switch medications altogether.
Stimulants
Stimulants are often the medication of choice for those with ADHD who also have anxiety. add adhd medications are believed to help both ADHD and anxiety as they increase the brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps to improve concentration and decreases the impulsivity. It also aids in motivation and memory.
Stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate or amphetamines work by blocking the reuptake process of norepinephrine and dopamine, thereby keeping them at higher levels in the brain. This improves focus and reduces impulse-driven behavior, making it easier to manage anger and other emotions that can make anxiety worse.
However, stimulants can also have an unexpected side effects as they can cause an increase in symptoms of anxiety. They can also trigger sleep issues, which means you or your child could struggle to get enough restful sleep. They can also cause a decrease in appetite, which could hinder in eating enough to maintain healthy growth. Some people experience tics too that are sudden sounds or movements like the blinking of eyes and clearing of the throat. These side effects, while normal, can be controlled or eliminated using certain techniques.
It is important to keep in mind that each person responds differently stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. It may take some trial and error with various dosages, medications and schedules to find a combination that is effective for you or your child.
Your doctor will take into consideration your individual issues and lifestyle when creating the treatment plan. They may suggest a treatment to reduce anxiety and monitor your response with medication to determine the best options for you.
Some ADHD medications can interact with medications for treating anxiety. Adderall, for example, can exacerbate anxiety in children who suffer from both ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants can alter the way that the brain processes information regarding potential threats from both the external and internal environment.
However, this doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety cannot be treated in tandem. It's also possible that improving ADHD symptoms could decrease anxiety as they could reduce the number of anxiety-inducing situations and conflicts that children who are not treated for ADHD face.
Psychostimulants have proven to be effective in treating both ADHD and anxiety, according to numerous studies. They're generally more efficient than traditional antianxiety drugs for both disorders. It's also possible that the improvement in anxiety that psychostimulants provide is a direct result of the improvement in ADHD symptoms, rather than an interaction directly with the drug.