Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
Treatments for ADHD often work well for anxiety, too. Stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamine increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters within the brain. Antidepressants and nonstimulants like atomoxetine could also be helpful.
In certain instances stimulant medications may cause an increase in anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, then your doctor may recommend another medication or switch medications.
Stimulants
Stimulants are typically the treatment of choice for those with ADHD who also have anxiety. These medications are thought to ease the symptoms of both ADHD and anxiety by enhancing the brain's natural production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes concentration, reduces impulsivity, and improves motivation and memory.
Stimulant drugs like amphetamines and methylphenidate block process of reuptake, which keeps dopamine and norepinephrine at higher levels in your brain. This improves concentration and decreases the tendency to be impulsive and makes it easier to manage anger and other emotions that can cause anxiety.
Stimulants can also have an unintended side effect, which is that they can sometimes increase anxiety symptoms. They can also trigger sleep problems, so you or your child could struggle to get enough restful sleep. In addition, they can cause a decrease in appetite, which can hinder eating enough to support healthy growth. Certain people also experience tics which are sudden movements or sounds, such as eye blinks and throat clearing. These side effects, while common, can be reduced 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 could take a bit of trial and error to determine the right combination of medications, dosages, and schedules for you or your children.
Your healthcare provider will consider your particular symptoms and lifestyle when developing a treatment plan. They will likely recommend treatments to ease anxiety and track your response to medications to determine the most effective treatment options for you.
The medications used to treat anxiety may interact with some ADHD medications. For instance, Adderall can make anxiety more severe in children with the comorbidity of ADHD and anxiety. This is because psychostimulants can affect how the brain processes information regarding possible threats in the internal and external environments, and it's possible that they could interfere with this normal process.
However this doesn't mean ADHD and anxiety cannot 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 are generally effective in treating both ADHD and anxiety, according to several studies. They are usually more effective for both disorders than conventional antianxiety medication. adhd medication and pregnancy that the reduction of anxiety with psychostimulants was an outcome of the improvement in ADHD symptoms, not the drug itself.
