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 condition usually improves the other. Mental health professionals prescribe antidepressants, stimulants for depression, or antidepressants along with ADHD medication.

Wellbutrin (bupropion), and Effexor, (venlafaxine), are the two most common antidepressants prescribed to treat ADHD "off-label". These medications boost levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine and help improve concentration.

1. Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate is also known as the brand name Ritalin is the most popular medication to treat adults with ADHD and depression as well as anxiety. It belongs to a class called central nervous stimulants. It works by altering the amount of certain natural substances in your brain. It is available as a tablet, liquid chewable tablets, or extended-release capsules. It is also available via the skin.

It is not uncommon for people with ADHD to have co-occurring mood disorders like depression or anxiety. It is important that you inform your doctor if you have anxiety or depression because certain medications, including stimulants, can cause them to get worse. In some cases 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 blood pressure and heart rates and therefore, you should schedule regular visits to your physician to examine these. It may also trigger facial ticks (uncontrollable, rapid movements of the face). It should not be taken by those suffering from a genetic condition called phenylketonuria, which causes difficulty metabolizing the chemical phenylalanine. It is also unsafe to take during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so you should let your doctor know if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

You should not drive or operate machinery while taking methylphenidate. It can cause dizziness as well as blurred vision. It is essential to drink plenty of fluids when you take it. If you experience difficulty swallowing tablets, ask your doctor about extended-release capsules or oral disintegrating tablets. You should not crush or chew on these medications. If you are having difficulty eating solid food, ask your doctor about liquid medications that can be mixed into soft foods or drinks like applesauce, pudding, or yogurt.

2. Lisdexamfetamine

Lisdexamfetamine is a medication within the central nervous system stimulant family. It affects the quantity of certain natural substances in the brain. It is used to treat of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children of 6 years or older. It is also used to treat binge-eating disorders in adults.

Adults with ADHD frequently suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. It is important to treat these disorders so that they can be more comfortable and perform at their best both at work and at home. Some medications used to treat mental disorders may affect ADHD medication. It is important to discuss any other medical issues.

Depression and anxiety can be a tangled mess, as they both involve a wide range of symptoms. Certain antidepressants, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) or Effexor (venlafaxine) are often prescribed to treat these ailments and can help enhance focus and concentration in those suffering from adhd medication uk elvanse/ADHD. They are effective by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain. They are low-risk for abuse and misuse.

In studies of LDX in adults suffering from ADHD and anxiety or depression, the medication showed promising results. It helped improve ADHD ratings, as well as executive function and ADHD ratings. It was also safe to use.

It is essential to inform your doctor if you're taking any other medications that include MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan) and linezolid (Zyvox) as well as methylene blue, the phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) and tranylcypromine (Parnate). These medicines should not be consumed within 14 days of taking lisdexamfetamine. You should also let your doctor know if are allergic to lisdexamfetamine or any other ingredient 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 reuptake of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. By boosting levels of this chemical in the brain, the drug increases alertness and reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms. It is important to note, however, that this medication is not recommended as a treatment on its own for anxiety disorders. It is recommended that the patient seeks treatment from a qualified therapist or psychiatrist.

There have been a variety of studies conducted to assess the effects of atomoxetine on patients with ADHD and anxiety disorders. These studies comprise nine randomized controlled trials and two post-hoc subgroup analyses. In the majority of cases, atomoxetine outperformed placebo on both measures of improvement in symptom severity and cognitive function. It is important to note that the sample size in these studies was small.

Some of the side effects associated with this medication include abdominal pain and rapid heart rate. These effects are usually minor and are not seen for everyone who takes the medication. Some people who use Atomoxetine have expressed thoughts of suicide. These thoughts were reported during short-term clinical studies on children and adolescents who took the medication. However, suicides didn't occur in these trials.

Like stimulants, atomoxetine can also be effective in treating anxiety and ADHD that are comorbid. In fact, in an earlier study of adults with ADHD and social anxiety disorder, atomoxetine outperformed the placebo. This is an encouraging result that suggests that this medication could be effective for treating ADHD and anxiety when paired 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 is a non-stimulant drug that increases a chemical in the brain that is known as noradrenaline. This chemical passes messages between brain cells, and increasing it can aid concentration and control impulses. This drug is usually prescribed in capsule form and is taken at least twice a day by your doctor. There are some serious side effects like suicidal thoughts or liver damage.

Anxiety is a disorder that can cause extreme fear and anxiety and. It can trigger symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, breathlessness, and anxiety or fear. People with anxiety disorders often struggle to control their symptoms, despite efforts to lessen them.

People with ADHD can sometimes suffer from anxiety, too. The condition can cause issues with relationships and emotions, as well as low self-esteem. Untreated ADHD symptoms, like forgetfulness and impulsiveness, can lead to feelings of frustration and feeling of failure.

Nonstimulants such as atomoxetine, Qelbree and lisdexamfetamine (methylphenidate) can also assist to ease anxiety symptoms. High blood pressure medications such as clonidine, (Kapvay) and guanfacine, (Intuniv or Tenex) can be used to treat ADHD in adults. However, these medications differ from stimulants.

While antidepressants aren't approved by the FDA to treat ADHD, your doctor may prescribe them alone or with a stimulant, though they are typically not prescribed to teenagers and children. Psychotherapy is a second treatment option. It involves speaking with a mental health professional, and is sometimes effective for treating anxiety and ADHD together. Lifestyle and routine changes can also help in managing these disorders. You can, for example try meditating or practicing yoga, managing your stress and sleep patterns and including exercise into your daily routine.

5. Tricyclic antidepressants

A mental health professional could recommend antidepressants to you as part of your treatment. They're not approved by the FDA to treat ADHD, but they can sometimes help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression if taken alongside 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 -like fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro) -boost your levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin to improve your mood and reduce 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 were originally developed as antipsychotics, but were later discovered to have potent antidepressant effects. These medicines include imipramine (Tofranil) and amitriptyline (Elavil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor).

Tricyclics can also lessen the sensitivity of a person to noise, enhance sleep quality and lower blood pressure. They can cause drowsiness, therefore, those taking them should avoid driving or operating machinery that could be dangerous until they know how they'll react to the medication.

Numerous lifestyle changes can improve your ADHD and anxiety symptoms, including exercising, getting enough sleep and eating a nutritious diet rich in whole fruits, grains and vegetables. Mindfulness and other forms therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can help reduce stress. And, if you're struggling with managing your anxiety and ADHD, Klarity can connect you with licensed professionals for affordable, insurance-free online mental health services. Find out more about our services and make an appointment today.