Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same drugs that treat ADHD can also be used to treat anxiety. The stimulants methylphenidate, amphetamine boost levels of certain brain neurotransmitters. Antidepressants as well as nonstimulants like atomoxetine could also be helpful.
In some instances, stimulant medications can cause anxiety to worsen. If this is the case, then your doctor might prescribe a different medication or switch to another.
Stimulants
People suffering from ADHD and anxiety are often prescribed stimulants. These drugs are believed to ease the symptoms of both ADHD and anxiety by increasing the brain's natural production of dopamine. an neurotransmitter that improves concentration, decreases impulsivity and supports memory and motivation.
The stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and amphetamines are effective in preventing the reuptake process of norepinephrine and dopamine, which keeps them at higher levels in the brain. This improves focus and reduces impulsive behaviors which makes it easier to control anger and other emotions that can make anxiety worse.
However, stimulants can also have an unexpected side effects as they can cause an increase in symptoms of anxiety. Your child or you may be having trouble getting enough sleep. They can also reduce appetite, which could hinder in eating enough to maintain healthy growth. Some people suffer from tics too as tics, which are loud sounds or movements, such as the blinking of eyes and clearing of the throat. Although these symptoms are common they can be mitigated or eliminated with a few simple strategies.
It's important to remember that every person reacts differently to stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. dealing with adhd without medication might take some trial and error with various dosages, schedules and medications to find a combination that is effective for you or your child.
When developing the treatment plan, your doctor will take into account your specific symptoms and your lifestyle. They'll likely recommend a treatment to address anxiety and monitor the response of your medication to determine which treatment options are the best for you.
Treatments for anxiety can interact with certain ADHD medications. For instance, Adderall can make anxiety more severe in children with comorbid ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants may affect how the brain processes information about potential threats in the external and internal environments and it's possible they may hinder this normal process.
However this doesn't mean ADHD and anxiety aren't treated in tandem. It's also possible that treating ADHD symptoms can reduce anxiety, too, since they might reduce the number of anxiety-provoking situations and conflicts that children who are not treated for ADHD have to deal with.
Psychostimulants are generally effective for treating both ADHD and anxiety, as per several studies. They tend to be more effective for both disorders than conventional antianxiety medication. It's possible that the improvement of anxiety using psychostimulants was an outcome of the improvement in ADHD symptoms, not the medication itself.