Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
Treatments for ADHD generally work well for anxiety, too. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine boost levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain. Antidepressants as well as nonstimulants like atomoxetine may also help.
In certain instances, stimulant medication may worsen anxiety symptoms. If that's the case, your doctor might prescribe a different medication or switch medications altogether.
Stimulants
People suffering from ADHD and anxiety are frequently prescribed stimulants. non prescription adhd medication uk are believed to aid both ADHD and anxiety since they increase the brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that improves concentration and reduces impulsivity. It also aids in motivation and memory.
Stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate or amphetamines are effective in preventing the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, which keeps their levels higher in the brain. This improves focus and reduces impulse-driven behavior which makes it easier to manage anger and other emotions that could cause anxiety to become worse.
However, stimulants can have an unexpected side effect: they sometimes increase anxiety symptoms. Your child or you could also be struggling to get enough sleep. In addition, they could cause a decrease in appetite, which can interfere with eating enough for healthy growth. Many people also experience tics which are sudden movements or sounds, such as eye blinking and throat clearing. Although these symptoms are common they can be controlled or eliminated by a few simple techniques.
It is important to keep in mind that every person reacts differently to stimulants and non-stimulant ADHD medications. 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 determining the treatment plan, your physician will consider your individual symptoms and life style. They'll likely recommend a treatment to reduce anxiety and track your response to medications to determine which treatment options are best for you.
Some ADHD medications can interact with medications used to treat anxiety. Adderall, for example can cause anxiety in children who suffer from both ADHD and anxiety. This is because psychostimulants can affect how the brain processes information about possible threats in the external and internal environment and it's possible they may affect the normal process of processing.
This doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety can't be treated in tandem. It's also possible that improving ADHD symptoms could decrease anxiety, too, as they might reduce the number of anxiety-provoking situations and conflicts that children suffering from untreated ADHD confront.
Psychostimulants have been shown to be effective in improving both ADHD and anxiety in a number of studies. They're generally more effective than traditional antianxiety medication for both disorders. It's possible that the decrease of anxiety using psychostimulants was a result of the improved ADHD symptoms rather than the drug itself.