Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same medications that treat ADHD can also be used to treat anxiety. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters that are present in the brain. Antidepressants and nonstimulants such as atomoxetine can also aid.
In some cases stimulant medications may cause an increase in anxiety symptoms. If this is the case your doctor may prescribe another medication or even switch your medications completely.
Stimulants
People suffering from ADHD and anxiety are often prescribed stimulants. They are believed to aid both ADHD and anxiety as they boost the brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that improves concentration and reduces impulsivity. It also aids in motivation and memory.
The stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and amphetamines block the reuptake of norepinephrine as well as dopamine, which helps keep them at higher levels in the brain. This improves concentration and decreases impulse-driven behavior, making it easier to control anger and other emotions that could cause anxiety.
adhd medications for adults can also have unintended effects, which is that they can occasionally increase anxiety symptoms. Your child or you could be having trouble getting enough sleep. In addition, they could cause a decrease in appetite, which can interfere with eating enough for healthy growth. Some people suffer from the tics, which are sudden movements or sounds, such as blinking eyes and clearing of the throat. These side effects, although common, can be reduced or eliminated with some simple methods.
It is important to keep in mind that everyone responds differently to stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. It might require some trial and error with different medications, dosages and schedules to find the right combination that is effective for you or your child.
Your doctor will take into account your particular symptoms and lifestyle when developing a treatment plan. They'll likely recommend a therapy to manage anxiety and observe the response of your medication to determine which options are most suitable for you.
Treatments for anxiety can interact with other ADHD medications. For example, Adderall can make anxiety worse for children who have co-occurring ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants may affect how the brain process information about potential threats in the internal and external environments and it's possible they may affect the normal process of processing.
This does not mean that ADHD and anxiety can't be treated in conjunction. It's also possible that reducing ADHD symptoms can help reduce anxiety, too, as they could reduce the number of anxiety-provoking situations and conflicts that children suffering from untreated ADHD have to deal with.
Psychostimulants are generally found to be effective in reducing both ADHD and anxiety in a variety of studies. They're generally more efficient than traditional antianxiety drugs for both disorders. It's possible that the decrease of anxiety using psychostimulants was a result of the improved ADHD symptoms, not the substance itself.