Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same drugs that treat ADHD can be used to treat anxiety. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Antidepressants and nonstimulants like atomoxetine could also be helpful.
In some instances stimulant medications can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, then your doctor might prescribe a different medication or switch medications.
Stimulants
Stimulants are often the medication 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 which promotes concentration and decreases impulsivity. It also aids in memory and motivation.
The stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and amphetamines block the reuptake process of norepinephrine and dopamine, which helps keep them at higher levels in the brain. This improves concentration and reduces the tendency to be impulsive and makes it easier to control anger and other feelings that can make anxiety worse.
Stimulants can also have unintended effects for instance, they can occasionally increase anxiety symptoms. You or your child could be having trouble getting enough sleep. Additionally, adhd medication list may cause a decrease in appetite, which can cause problems with eating enough food for healthy growth. Certain people experience the tics that are sudden sound or movement like blinking eyes and clearing of the throat. These effects, though common, can be reduced or eliminated with some simple methods.
It is important to keep in mind that every person reacts differently to stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. It may require some trial and error with different medications, dosages and schedules to find the right combination that works for you or your child.
Your doctor will take into account your individual issues and lifestyle when creating a treatment plan. They will likely recommend an approach to lessen anxiety and track your response to medication to determine the best solutions for you.
Medications used to treat anxiety can interact with other ADHD medications. For example, Adderall can make anxiety worse in some children with the comorbidity of ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants may affect the way the brain processes information regarding possible threats from both the external and internal environment.
However, this doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety cannot be treated in tandem. It's possible that treating ADHD symptoms can also reduce anxiety. This is because they can reduce the number and intensity of anxiety-provoking situations that children with ADHD confront.
In general, psychostimulants appear to be effective in improving both ADHD and anxiety in a number of studies. They are usually more effective for both disorders than traditional antianxiety medications. It's also possible that the improvement in anxiety seen with psychostimulants is the direct result of the improvement of ADHD symptoms, rather than an actual interaction with the drug.