15 Reasons To Not Overlook Medication For ADHD
Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The medications that treat ADHD are often effective for anxiety, too. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Antidepressants as well as nonstimulants like atomoxetine may also help.
In some instances, stimulant medications may worsen anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend an alternative medication or switch medications.
Stimulants
Stimulants are typically the treatment of choice for those with ADHD who also suffer from anxiety. These medications are thought to ease the symptoms of both ADHD and anxiety by enhancing the brain's natural production of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that helps in concentration, reduces impulsivity and helps with motivation and memory.
Stimulant drugs such as amphetamines and methylphenidate block reuptake of norepinephrine, keeping dopamine and norepinephrine in higher levels in your brain. This improves concentration and decreases the tendency to be impulsive which makes it easier to manage anger and other emotions that can cause anxiety.
However, stimulants can have an unexpected side effect as they can cause an increase in anxiety symptoms. Your child or you may be having trouble getting enough 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 movements or sounds like eye blinks and throat clearing. These effects, though common, can be reduced or eliminated by certain techniques.
It is important to keep in mind that each person reacts differently to stimulants and non-stimulant ADHD medications. It might take a bit of trial and error to determine the best combination of medications dosages, schedules, and dosages for your child or yourself.
Your healthcare provider will consider your specific conditions and lifestyle when determining the treatment plan. They will likely recommend an approach to lessen anxiety and track your reaction to medication to determine the best options for you.
Medications used to treat anxiety can interact with other ADHD medications. For instance, Adderall can make anxiety worse for children who have co-occurring ADHD and anxiety. This is because psychostimulants alter the way that the brain processes information about possible threats within the internal and external environments and it's possible they may hinder this normal process.
This doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety can't be treated together. It's also possible that treating ADHD symptoms can reduce anxiety, too, since they may reduce the amount of stressful situations and conflicts that children with untreated ADHD have to deal with.
Psychostimulants have proven to be effective in treating both ADHD and anxiety, based on numerous studies. dealing with adhd without medication than traditional antianxiety medication for both disorders. It's also possible that the improvement in anxiety that psychostimulants provide is directly related to the improvement in ADHD symptoms, rather than an actual interaction with the drug.