Medications For ADHD and Anxiety
The same medications that treat ADHD can be used to treat anxiety. Drugs like amphetamine or methylphenidate increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters within the brain. Antidepressants and nonstimulants such as atomoxetine may also help.
In certain instances, stimulant medication can cause anxiety to worsen. If that's the case, your doctor could prescribe a different medication or switch to a different one altogether.
Stimulants
People with ADHD and anxiety are typically prescribed stimulants. These medications are believed to aid both ADHD and anxiety as they increase brain's production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that improves concentration and reduces the impulsivity. It also helps with memory and motivation.
adhd stimulant medication as methylphenidate or amphetamines work by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, thereby keeping their levels higher in the brain. This improves focus and reduces the tendency to be impulsive making it easier to manage anger and other emotions that could cause anxiety.
The stimulants can also cause unintended effects, for instance, they can sometimes cause anxiety-related symptoms to increase. They can also cause sleep issues, which means you or your child might struggle to get enough restful sleep. They can also cause a decrease in appetite, which could hinder in eating enough to sustain healthy growth. Some people experience tics too as tics, which are loud sounds or movements like blinking of the eyes or clearing of the throat. These side effects, although frequent, can be lowered or eliminated using a few simple techniques.
It is important to keep in mind that everyone responds differently to stimulants or non-stimulant ADHD medication. It may take some trial and error with various dosages, schedules and medications to find the right combination that is effective for you or your child.
Your doctor will take into consideration your specific symptoms and lifestyle when developing a treatment plan. They may recommend a treatment to reduce anxiety and track your reaction to medication to determine the best treatment options for you.
Certain ADHD medications may interact with medications for treating anxiety. For instance, Adderall can make anxiety worse for children who have comorbid ADHD and anxiety. Psychostimulants can alter the way that the brain processes information regarding potential threats from both the external and internal environment.
This doesn't mean that ADHD and anxiety cannot be treated in conjunction. It's also possible that improving ADHD symptoms could decrease anxiety as they could reduce the number of anxiety-provoking situations and conflicts that children suffering from untreated ADHD face.
Psychostimulants have been shown to be effective for improving both ADHD and anxiety in a number of studies. They are generally more effective in treating both disorders than traditional antianxiety medications. It's possible that the reduction in anxiety that psychostimulants provide is the direct result of improving ADHD symptoms, rather than an interaction directly with the drug.