adhd medication ritalin For ADHD and Anxiety
Medications that treat ADHD are often effective for anxiety, too. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine boost levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Antidepressants as well as nonstimulants like atomoxetine could also be helpful.
In certain instances, stimulant medication may worsen anxiety symptoms. If this is the case, your doctor may prescribe another medication or switch medications altogether.
Stimulants
Stimulants are often the medication of choice for people suffering from ADHD who also suffer from anxiety. They are believed to help with both ADHD and anxiety since they increase the brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps to improve concentration and reduces impulsivity. It also aids in motivation and memory.
The stimulant drugs like amphetamines or methylphenidate block the reuptake norepinephrine, which keeps dopamine and norepinephrine in higher levels in your brain. This improves focus and reduces the tendency to be impulsive which makes it easier to manage anger and other emotions which can make anxiety worse.
However, stimulants can have unexpected side effects: they sometimes increase symptoms of anxiety. They can also trigger sleep problems, so you or your child might have trouble getting enough restful sleep. They can also cause a decrease in appetite, which could hinder in eating enough to maintain healthy growth. Some people experience tics too, which are sudden sounds or movements, such as blinking of the eyes or clearing of the throat. These side effects, although normal, can be controlled or eliminated by some simple methods.
It's important to remember that each person responds differently to stimulants and non-stimulant ADHD medications. It may take a little trial and error to determine the appropriate combination of medication dosages, schedules, and dosages for your child or yourself.
Your healthcare provider will consider your specific symptoms and lifestyle when developing a treatment plan. They'll likely recommend a treatment to reduce anxiety and track the response of your medication to determine which options are best for you.
Certain ADHD medications may interact with medication used to treat anxiety. Adderall, for example can cause anxiety in children who have both ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants may affect the way that the brain processes information about potential threats from the external and internal environment.
However this doesn't mean ADHD and anxiety can't be treated together. It's possible that treating ADHD symptoms can help to reduce anxiety. This is because they may decrease the number and severity of anxiety-provoking situations that children with ADHD have to deal with.
Psychostimulants have proven to be effective in treating both ADHD and anxiety, according to numerous studies. They are usually more effective in treating both disorders than traditional antianxiety medication. It's also possible that the improvement in anxiety that psychostimulants provide is the direct result of the improvement in ADHD symptoms, not an interaction directly with the drug.