Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
Medications that treat ADHD generally work well for anxiety too. Stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters within the brain. Antidepressants and nonstimulants such as 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 to a different one altogether.
Stimulants
Stimulants are usually the drug of choice for people with ADHD who also suffer from anxiety. These drugs are believed to help both ADHD and anxiety as they increase brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps to improve concentration and reduces the impulsivity. It also helps with motivation and memory.
Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate and amphetamines are effective in preventing the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, which keeps their levels higher in the brain. This improves focus and reduces the tendency to be impulsive which makes it easier to manage anger and other emotions that can make anxiety worse.
They can also cause unintended side effects which is that they occasionally increase anxiety symptoms. They can also cause sleep issues, which means you or your child could have trouble getting enough restful sleep. They can also cause a decrease in appetite, which could hinder in eating enough to maintain healthy growth. Certain people also experience tics, which are sudden sounds or movements like eye blinks and throat clearing. Although these symptoms are common they can be mitigated or eliminated by a few simple techniques.
It is important to keep in mind that everyone responds differently to stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. It could take a bit of trial and error to determine the right combination of medications dosages, schedules, and dosages for your child or yourself.
Your doctor will take into account your specific symptoms and lifestyle when developing a treatment plan. They'll likely suggest a therapy to reduce anxiety and track the response of your medication to determine which treatment options are most suitable for you.
Treatments for anxiety can interact with certain ADHD medications. For example, Adderall can make anxiety worse in some children with comorbid ADHD and anxiety. This is because psychostimulants affect the way the brain process information about possible threats in the external and internal environments and it's possible they could interfere with this normal process.
Learn Additional does not mean that ADHD and anxiety can't be treated together. It's also possible that treating ADHD symptoms can reduce anxiety as they could reduce the number of anxiety-inducing situations and conflicts that children with untreated ADHD face.
Psychostimulants have proven to be effective in treating both ADHD and anxiety, according to numerous studies. They are usually more effective for both disorders than traditional antianxiety medications. It's possible that the reduction of anxiety with psychostimulants was a result of the improved ADHD symptoms, rather than the medication itself.