How to Choose the Best ADHD Medication for Adults With Anxiety and Depression

When a person suffers from both ADHD and anxiety or depression, treating the first can usually improve the other. Mental health professionals prescribe antidepressants, stimulants for depression or antidepressants in conjunction with ADHD medication.

Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) are the most commonly used antidepressants that are prescribed "off-label" for ADHD. These medications boost the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. They also improve concentration.

1. Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate is the most popular medication for adults suffering from ADHD, anxiety, or depression. It's part of a group known as central nervous stimulants. It is a medication that alters the amount of certain natural substances in your brain. It can be taken as a tablet, liquid chewable tablets, or extended-release capsules. It can be administered through the skin.

It is not uncommon for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression. It is important to inform your doctor about any depression or anxiety you may be suffering from. Certain medications, specifically stimulants can make these conditions worse. In some instances, you may require both a medication to treat anxiety and a stimulant medication.

Methylphenidate can cause headaches as well as stomachaches. It can also increase your blood pressure and heart rate and you should make regular appointments with your doctor to examine these. It can also cause facial ticks (uncontrollable rapid movements of the face). People suffering from phenylketonuria (a genetic disorder) who are unable to process the phenylalanine drug should not take it. It is also dangerous to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It is important to inform your doctor if you plan to get pregnant.

You must not operate or drive machinery while taking methylphenidate. It can cause blurred vision, dizziness and somnolence. Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication. Ask your doctor if you have trouble swallowing tablets. It is not recommended to chew or crush these medications, so if you have difficulties eating solid food discuss with your doctor about liquid medicine that can be mixed with soft foods or drinks such as applesauce, yogurt or pudding.

2. Lisdexamfetamine

Lisdexamfetamine is a medicine in the central nervous system stimulant family. It affects the amounts of certain natural substances within the brain. It is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults as well as children aged 6 years or older. It is sometimes used to treat binge eating disorder in adults.

Adults with ADHD often have comorbid anxiety and depression. It is crucial to treat these conditions so that they can feel better and perform at their best medication for adhd, both at work and at home. Some medications used to treat mental conditions may interfere negatively with ADHD medication. It is important to be open about any other medical concerns.

Depression and anxiety are both complex conditions, since they can trigger various symptoms. Certain antidepressants, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) or Effexor (venlafaxine), are frequently used to treat these disorders and can help enhance focus and concentration in people with ADHD or ADHD. They are effective by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain. They are low-risk for misuse and abuse.

In studies of LDX in adults suffering from ADHD and depression The medication produced promising results. It helped improve stopping adhd medication adults ratings, and executive function and ADHD ratings. It was also safe for use.

Tell your doctor about any other medications are being used for example, MAO inhibitors, like isocarboxazid and linezolid, Methylene blue (Nardil) and phenelzine. selegiline, Emsam (Zelapar), or tranylcypromine. These medicines are not recommended to be taken within 14 days of lisdexamfetamine. You should also inform your doctor know if you are allergic to lisdexamfetamine, or any other ingredient in the medication.

3. Atomoxetine

Atomoxetine (Strattera) is a nonstimulant ADHD medication that is also used to treat depression. It is believed to work by preventing the reuptake of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter. By increasing levels of this chemical in the brain, the drug enhances alertness and reduces anxiety and depression symptoms. This medication is not to be used alone to treat anxiety disorders. It is recommended that the person seeks treatment from a qualified therapist or psychiatrist.

Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the effects of atomoxetine on patients with ADHD and comorbid anxiety disorders. These studies comprise 9 controlled studies that are randomized and 2 post-hoc subgroup analyses. In most cases, both improvement in symptom and cognition function were more accurately measured with atomoxetine than placebo. It is important to remember that the sample size of these studies was very small.

This medication can also cause a few side effects, including abdominal pain and a fast heart rate. These effects are usually mild and do not occur in all people who take the medication. Some people who take atomoxetine have reported thoughts of suicide. These thoughts were observed in short-term clinical trials involving adolescents and children who took the drug. However, suicides did not occur in these trials.

As with stimulants, atomoxetine is also effective in treating comorbid anxiety/ADHD. In a recent study atomoxetine was more effective than a placebo in treating adults with social anxiety disorder and ADHD. This is an encouraging result that suggests that this medication could be effective in treating ADHD and anxiety when used with other treatments. More research will be needed to determine if the atomoxetine medication can be used effectively for other types of anxiety disorders comorbid with each other.

4. Bupropion

Bupropion, a drug that is not stimulant increases the chemical noradrenaline in the brain. This chemical passes messages between brain cells and increasing it can aid concentration and control of impulses. Your doctor may recommend this medication in capsule form which is usually taken one or twice a day. It's also linked to some serious side effects, such as suicidal thoughts and liver damage.

Anxiety is a disorder that causes constant, intense fear and anxiety. It can cause symptoms like stomachaches, headaches and breath shortness, and feelings like anxiety or dread. People suffering from anxiety disorders often struggle to manage their symptoms, despite efforts to lessen them.

Some people suffering from ADHD also develop anxiety. The condition can cause emotional and relationship problems and low self-esteem. Untreated ADHD symptoms, like forgetfulness and impulsiveness, can lead to feelings of frustration and feeling of failure.

Non-stimulants such as atomoxetine Qelbree and lisdexamfetamine (methylphenidate) can also help to reduce anxiety symptoms. High blood pressure medications like clonidine (Kapvay) and guanfacine (Intuniv, Tenex) may also be used to treat ADHD in adults, although these drugs function differently than stimulants.

Although antidepressants haven't been approved by the FDA to treat ADHD Your doctor could prescribe them as a single drug or along with a stimulant. However, they typically aren't used in teenagers and children. Psychotherapy is a different treatment option. Talking with a mental-health professional can be effective in treating anxiety as well as ADHD. Lifestyle and routine changes can also help in managing these disorders. For instance, you can my general practitioner prescribe adhd medication try practicing meditation or yoga, managing stress and sleep habits, and incorporating physical activity in your daily routine.

5. Tricyclic antidepressants

A mental health professional may recommend antidepressants to you as part of your treatment. They're not approved by the FDA to treat ADHD, but they can occasionally improve symptoms of anxiety and depression when taken in conjunction with stimulants. Antidepressants increase serotonin levels as well as norepinephrine production in the brain. They can therefore help to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors -- such as fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro) -boost the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin to lift your mood and decrease your 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 first came into use to treat schizophrenia, but they were later discovered to have potent antidepressant properties. These medications include amitriptyline, nortriptyline and imipramine.

Tricyclics can also reduce the sensitivity of a person to noise, increase sleep quality and lower blood pressure. They can cause drowsiness so people who are taking them should stay away from driving or operating machinery that could be dangerous until they know how they'll react to the medication.

Exercise, getting enough rest and eating a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can all aid in reducing ADHD and anxiety symptoms. Mindfulness and other forms therapy like cognitive behavior therapy, can also reduce stress. If you're struggling with managing your anxiety and ADHD, Klarity can connect you with licensed professionals for convenient, insurance-free online mental health services. Find out more about it and schedule an appointment today.