Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include drugs and counselling. It is important to try both to determine which one is more efficient.
People with classic ADD are irritable, disorganized and are often hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and basal Ganglia. They also have low dopamine levels. Treatment usually involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are legal as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) as well as methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin; and illegally used frequently mixed with other substances, including cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as syrups, liquids, pills or patches.
They boost concentration by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain synapses. They also reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and help improve working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed drug for adults with ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulty sleeping, and an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They can interfere with some medical and pharmaceutical treatments, so it's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
The use of medications can help reduce ADHD symptoms in around 70 percent to 80% of the people who take them. Not all people respond the same way to the medication and the effects may not last long.
Some people discover that stimulants don't work well, or they can't tolerate the side effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe non-stimulant medications. These medications aren't as efficient as stimulants but they can help improve attention, focus and control of impulses. Doctors often prescribe these drugs along with stimulants to boost the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to begin working, and they don't act as quickly. They don't increase dopamine levels and have a different effect on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine and Guanfacine. The most frequently reported adverse effect of these drugs is the feeling of drowsiness. However the drowsiness can be decreased by increasing the dosage or taking them at the time of sleep. The drowsiness will diminish in a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants affect the brain's chemical makeup, known as neurotransmitters. The medications are grouped by how they interact with neurotransmitters. Each group contains somewhat different medications. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Your health care provider might prescribe a medicine that belongs to one of these groups in order to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not provide immediate relief. adhd untreated in adults could take a few weeks to experience the full benefit. You and your doctor will determine which medication is best for you. You may mix two antidepressants or other medicines to boost the effects of your treatment. This is known as augmenting. The most popular augmentation medicines are aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Different antidepressants have distinct side effects. It is recommended to discuss these side effects with your physician since they could cause problems with your daily activities. These adverse effects may be mild or severe and can depend on the type of antidepressant that you're taking. You should also inform your doctor about any other medications or herbal remedies you're taking, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter medications such as St. John's wort.
SSRIs have been proven to have fewer adverse effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. This is the reason SNRIs are regarded as more effective 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 primarily used to boost your energy levels, helping you to feel more awake. They may be useful for those suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause insomnia or jitteriness but they can be helpful for many people who suffer from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia and to assist smokers in quitting.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a proven treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the belief that thoughts and feelings are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that helps you discover new methods to manage stressors and negative habits. It can be used to treat bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and emotions into positive emotions or behaviors. The method is a mix of two different therapies which are cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy which is usually short-term, and is able to be carried out in a private or group setting. A therapist will guide you through various techniques, and you'll practice them in your daily life. Some of these techniques include: learning to recognize your negative automatic thoughts, practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a thought journal.
A therapist can also assist you in identifying negative thoughts that can lead you to engage in maladaptive behavior and teach you how to change your beliefs. They'll also teach you problem-solving techniques so that you are able to face challenges in your daily life. adult treatment for adhd will encourage you to establish SMART goals to help you to monitor your progress.
While each kind of cognitive behavior therapy has a slightly different approach but they all are focused on identifying the underlying thoughts that cause emotional distress and changing them. Therapists employ a variety of methods, but they are all based on the principles of operant and classical conditioning, which involves relating stimuli with their effects. During the therapy the person who is treating you will reward you for completing tasks and penalize you for failing to complete them.
During the first few sessions the therapist will help you identify problem behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. You might be assigned homework to help you build the skills. It is possible that you will require anywhere between six and twenty one-onone sessions, based on the degree and nature of your condition.
CBT can be used to treat a number of ailments such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). adult treatment for adhd is also effective for adult ADHD, which affects people as young as seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled meetings with a therapist to discuss your concerns. The sessions can last up to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face, in groups, or over the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health issues that include depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family and relationship issues, as well as work-related issues.
A counsellor will pay attention to your issues and provide an objective view. They can spot patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They will be able to teach you coping strategies and techniques for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can help you cope with major life events, such as divorce or the loss of a loved one. They can also teach you how to cope with addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others may be covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have a mental health care plan from your doctor.