How to Choose the Best ADHD Medication for Adults With Anxiety and Depression
If a person suffers from both ADHD and depression or anxiety treating one of the conditions often improves the other. Mental health experts prescribe antidepressants and stimulants for depression or antidepressants in conjunction with ADHD medication.
Wellbutrin (bupropion), and Effexor, (venlafaxine), are two of the most popular antidepressants that are prescribed for ADHD "off-label". These medications boost the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. They also help improve concentration.
1. Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate is the first choice medication for adults suffering from ADHD, anxiety, or depression. It's part of a group known as central nervous stimulants. It works by altering the amount of certain natural substances in your brain. It is available as a liquid, chewable tablet, or an extended-release capsule. It can be administered through the skin.
It is not unusual for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety. It is important that you inform your doctor if you have anxiety or depression because some medications, especially stimulants, can cause them to get worse. In certain situations, you may need to take stimulants and anti-anxiety medication.
Methylphenidate can cause headaches as well as stomachaches. It can also raise blood pressure and heart rate and therefore, you should schedule regular appointments with your physician to monitor these. It can also cause facial ticks (uncontrollable, rapid movements of the face). It should not be taken by those with an inherited condition known as Phenylketonuria. These people have difficulty metabolizing the chemical phenylalanine. It is also risky to take during pregnancy or nursing. You should tell your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant.
You should not drive or operate machinery while taking methylphenidate. It can cause dizziness, blurred vision and drowsiness. It is essential to drink enough fluids while you are taking it. Consult your physician if you have trouble swallowing tablets. It is not recommended to crush or chew these medicines. If you have difficulty eating solid foods, ask your doctor about liquid medications that can be added to soft food or drinks, such as applesauce pudding, or yogurt.
2. Lisdexamfetamine
Lisdexamfetamine (LDX) is a medication that belongs to the family of central nervous system stimulants. It affects the levels of certain natural substances in the brain. It is used to treat ADHD in children and adults who are 6 years of age and older. It can also be used to treat binge eating disorder in adults.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently suffer from anxiety and depression. Treatment of these conditions is crucial to help people feel more relaxed and perform their best at work and home. Some medications that are typically used to treat mental health conditions can interact with ADHD medications, so it is important to be open about any other medical issues you may have.
Depression and anxiety can be a tangled mess because they both have a wide range of symptoms. Certain antidepressants, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) or Effexor (venlafaxine), are commonly used to treat these conditions, and they can improve concentration and focus for people suffering from ADHD/ADHD. They typically work by increasing the quantity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, and they are not likely to cause misuse and abuse.
The medication showed promising results in studies that involved people suffering from ADHD and depression, as well as anxiety. It helped reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and it improved ADHD ratings and executive function measurements. It was also safe to use.
Inform your doctor if other medications are being taken for example, MAO inhibitors, like isocarboxazid or linezolid, as well as Methylene blue (Nardil) and phenelzine. selegiline, Emsam (Zelapar), or tranylcypromine. These medications are not recommended to be taken within 14 days of taking lisdexamfetamine. You should also inform your doctor know if are allergic to lisdexamfetamine or any other ingredients in the medication.
3. Atomoxetine
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is a non-stimulant ADHD medication that is also used to treat depression. It is believed to work by blocking the neurotransmitter reuptake. The drug boosts levels of this chemical in the brain to increase alertness, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. This medication should not, however, be used on its own to treat anxiety disorders. It is recommended that the patient seeks treatment from a qualified therapist or psychiatrist.
Numerous studies have been conducted to examine the effects of atomoxetine patients with ADHD and comorbid anxiety disorders. These studies include 9 controlled trials that were randomized and 2 post-hoc subgroup analysis. In the majority of instances, both improvement in symptoms and cognition function were better measured with atomoxetine than placebo. It is important to note that the sample size in these studies was very small.
The medication can also cause a few side effects, including abdominal pain and a rapid heart rate. These side effects are usually minor and do not affect everyone who takes this medication. In some instances, patients who take atomoxetine have thoughts of suicide. These thoughts were observed in short-term clinical trials of adolescents and children who took the medication. However, suicides didn't occur in these trials.
Like stimulants, atomoxetine is effective in treating comorbid anxiety/ADHD. In a recent study the atomoxetine medication was more effective than placebo in treating adults with social anxiety disorder and ADHD. This is a promising outcome that suggests this medication may be effective in treating ADHD and anxiety when used in conjunction with other treatments for both disorders. It will require more studies to determine if atomoxetine can be effective in other forms of comorbid anxiety disorders.
4. Bupropion
Bupropion, a drug that is not stimulant, increases the chemical noradrenaline in the brain. This chemical is responsible for sending messages between brain cells. Its increase can assist in focusing and controlling impulses. The drug is typically prescribed in capsule form and taken once or twice daily by your doctor. It's also linked to some serious side effects, like suicidal thoughts and liver damage.
Anxiety is a condition that causes constant, intense fear and anxiety. It can trigger symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, shortness of breath, as well as feelings of dread or panic. People suffering from anxiety disorders often struggle to control their symptoms, despite attempts to reduce them.
Some people suffering from ADHD can also experience anxiety. The condition can lead to problems with relationships and emotional issues, as well as low self-esteem. The symptoms of untreated ADHD like the inability to pay attention, forgetfulness and impulsive behaviorcan also cause feelings of frustration or failure.
Stimulants such as lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate can help reduce anxiety symptoms, and so can nonstimulant drugs such as atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree). High blood pressure medications such as clonidine (Kapvay) and Guanfacine (Intuniv, Tenex) may also be used to treat ADHD in adults, but these drugs work differently than stimulants.
While antidepressants aren't approved by the FDA to treat ADHD, your doctor may prescribe them as a single drug or together with a stimulant, but they're not typically prescribed for teenagers and children. Psychotherapy is a second treatment option. Talking with a mental-health professional can be effective in treating both anxiety and ADHD. adhd and medication in routine and lifestyle can also help in managing these disorders. For instance, you can consider practicing yoga or meditation, managing stress and sleep habits and incorporating physical exercise into your daily life.
5. Tricyclic antidepressants
In some cases the mental health professional may suggest antidepressants as part of your treatment program. These drugs are not FDA approved to treat ADHD but can improve anxiety and depression symptoms if taken along with stimulants. Antidepressants increase serotonin levels as well as norepinephrine production in the brain. They can therefore help to alleviate anxiety and depressive symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibiters, such as fluoxetine(Prozac), citalopram(Celexa), and escitalopram(Lexapro) boost the levels of neurotransmitter Serotonin in your brain to improve your mood and decrease anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors -- such as mirtazapine (Remeron) and nefazodone (Serzone) -- also lift your mood by increasing the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin that your brain's chemical messengers release. Tricyclic antidepressants, named after the three rings in their chemical structure, were first created as antipsychotics but were later discovered to have potent antidepressant properties. These medications include amitriptyline, imipramine, and nortriptyline.
Tricyclics also decrease a person's sensitivity to noise, increase sleep and lower blood pressure. Tricyclics can cause drowsiness. People taking them should not drive or operate dangerous equipment until they are certain of what reaction they'll have to the medication.
A variety of lifestyle changes can improve your ADHD and anxiety symptoms, such as taking exercise, sleeping enough and eating a nutritious diet high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Mindfulness and other forms of therapy like cognitive behavior therapy, can also reduce stress. Klarity can help you find certified providers who can provide online mental health care that is cost-free and convenient. Find out more about it and schedule an appointment today.