Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Counseling and medication are both effective treatment options for ADD. It is important to try both to determine which one is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be irritable and unorganized, as well being hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the thalamus. adult adhd treatments have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels are usually increased as part of treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are legally available as prescription drugs, including amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used often in combination with other substances, such as methcathinone and cocaine (crack). They are available as syrups, liquids, pills or patches.
They increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain's synapses, thereby improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and enhance working memory. They are among the most commonly used medication prescribed to people suffering from ADHD. They can trigger side effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They can also interfere with certain medical treatments and medications, so it's important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.
Medicines can lessen ADHD symptoms in 70% to 80% of the people who use them. Not all people respond the same way to the medication, and the effects may not last long.
adult adhd treatments find that stimulants aren't working well or they aren't able to handle the negative effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These drugs might not be as effective as stimulants, but they can help improve focus and attention and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these medications alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines are more difficult to use and aren't as effective. They don't increase dopamine levels and they have a different effect on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine and clonidine and Guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side result. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking them at bedtime. The drowsiness should diminish within a few weeks after beginning treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. They are grouped according to the way they affect these neurotransmitters with each group having drugs that act in slightly different ways. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Your physician may prescribe a medication belonging to one of these groups to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. adult treatment for adhd may not provide immediate relief. It may take several weeks to feel the full benefits. You and your doctor will decide which medication works best for you. They may combine two antidepressants or other medications to enhance the effects of your treatment. This is referred to as augmentation. The most common augmentation medications are Aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants may have a variety of adverse effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your doctor because they could interfere in your daily activities. These side effects may be mild or serious depending on the kind of antidepressant that you are taking. You should also inform your doctor about any other medicines or herbal remedies you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbs like St. John's wort.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and are believed to have less side-effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs boost levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine in the brain. This is why they're considered to be more efficient than SSRIs. They also have a shorter half-life, and are less likely than SSRIs to interact with other medications. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are used to boost your energy levels and make you feel more alert. They could be helpful for people suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) and mirtazapine are two of the most common. These medications can cause insomnia or jitteriness but they can be helpful for people suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia and to help smokers quit.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a scientifically-based treatment for mental health issues. It is based on the idea that feelings, thoughts and actions are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is a measurable, short-term program that teaches you new strategies to deal with stressors and bad habits. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.
CBT aims to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive emotions or behaviors. It is a combination of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy which is usually short-term, and can be done in a group or individual setting. You will be taught a variety of methods by a therapist and then you'll apply them in your daily life. These techniques include learning to recognize negative automatic thoughts; practicing mindfulness meditation; and keeping journals.
A therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that can lead you to engage in maladaptive behavior and teach you how to change these beliefs. They will also teach you how to deal with problems in your daily life. CBT therapists encourage you to set SMART goals in order to aid you to track your progress.
While each kind of cognitive behavior therapy has an entirely different approach, they all focus on identifying the thoughts which contribute to emotional distress and changing them. Therapists employ various methods but they are all based on the principles of operant and classical conditioning that involves associating stimuli to their effects. During the therapy the person who is treating you will give you a reward for completing tasks and penalize you for not completing the tasks.
During the first few sessions your therapist will work with you to identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. You might be given homework to help you develop the skills. Depending on the degree of your illness you could require up to 6-20 one-onone sessions.
CBT is effective in treating a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic disorders (PTSD). It is also effective for adults suffering from ADHD which affects individuals as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy which uses regular, scheduled meetings with the therapist (counsellor) to discuss your concerns. Typically, these sessions last approximately 50 minutes and can be face to face or in groups. They can also be conducted via phone. Counselling can be utilized to treat a variety of mental health problems that include depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to discuss friendship, family and relationship issues, as well as workplace-related problems.
A counselor will pay attention to your problems and offer an objective perspective. They will be able to discern patterns of behavior and suggest ways you can alter them. They can also teach you strategies and coping strategies to manage anxiety, stress or depression. They can assist you in adjusting to major life changes such as divorce or loss of loved ones. They can help you learn to manage chronic illnesses and addictions.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have mental health plans from your doctor.