Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counseling and medication. It is important to try both to determine which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD are irritable, disorganized and often hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment usually involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are available legally as prescription drugs, including amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) as well as methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used frequently mixed with other substances, like cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as pills, liquids, syrups or patches.
They enhance concentration by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain synapses. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and enhance working memory. They are the most frequently prescribed drug for adults with ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite or trouble sleeping, as well as an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They can also interfere with certain medical and pharmaceutical treatments It is important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.
Around 70 to 80 percent of those who are taking ADHD medication will experience an improvement in symptoms. Different people respond in a different way to the medication, and the effects may not last for long.
Some people don't like stimulants or can't tolerate their negative effects. In this instance doctors may prescribe nonstimulant medication. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants, but they do help improve focus, attention and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these medications along with stimulants to boost the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines take longer to work and aren't as effective. They do not raise dopamine levels, and they have different effects on neurotransmitters. Examples include the atomoxetine (clonidine), guanfacine, and clonidine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side result. The drowsiness is reduced by increasing the dosage or taking the medication prior to the time of sleep. The drowsiness should diminish within a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
The majority of antidepressants alter the chemical composition in the brain, called neurotransmitters. The drugs are classified based on how they act on neurotransmitters. Each group is comprised of slightly different medications. treating adhd in adults 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 to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It may take several weeks to experience the full benefits. You and your doctor will determine which medication is best for you. You may also take other medications or combine two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is referred to as an augmentation. The most common augmentation drugs are aripiprazole, quetiapine and lithium.
Antidepressants may have a variety of side effects. You should discuss these side effects with your doctor, as they may interfere with your daily activities. These adverse effects can be mild or severe, and they can be triggered by the type of antidepressant that you're taking. You should also tell your doctor about any other medicines or herbal remedies you're using, including prescription drugs and herbal remedies like St. John's wort.
SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants and are believed to have fewer side-effects than other types of antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) as well as sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs boost levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is the reason SNRIs are regarded as more effective than SSRIs. They also have longer half-lifes than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other drugs. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants can be utilized to boost energy and make you feel more awake. They can be beneficial for those suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause jitteriness or insomnia, but can be helpful for those suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. These medications are also used to treat bulimia and to assist smokers in quitting.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a tried and true treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the idea that thoughts and feelings are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that can help you learn new strategies to handle anxiety and negative habits. It can be used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
The purpose of CBT is to reframe unhelpful thoughts into positive feelings and behavior. The method is a combination of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. This kind of psychotherapy is usually short-term, and can be carried out in a group or individually. You will be taught different techniques by a therapist, and then you'll use them in your everyday life. These techniques include understanding how to recognize negative automatic thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping journals.
A Therapist can also assist you in identifying negative thoughts that cause you to engage in maladaptive behavior, and show you how to change these beliefs. They will also help you learn how to tackle issues in your daily life. CBT therapists will also guide you to establish SMART goals (specific goals that are measurable, achievable relevant, and time-based) to aid in tracking your progress.
While each type of CBT employs a distinct approach, all cognitive behavior therapies are focused on identifying and modifying the fundamental thoughts that cause emotional distress. The therapists use a variety of techniques, but most are built on the principles of operant and classical conditioning, which involve associating the effects of stimuli with the stimulus. During the treatment the therapist will give you a reward for completing tasks and will punish you for failing to complete them.
In the first few sessions with your therapist, you and the therapist will identify problematic behaviors and replace them by healthy ones. They might also assign homework to help you learn the skills. It is possible that you will require anywhere from six to twenty one-on-one sessions, depending on the severity and nature of your condition.
CBT is effective in treating a wide range of conditions, including anxiety depression, and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It is also effective for adult ADHD which affects individuals as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that uses regular, scheduled meetings with a therapist to talk about your issues. These sessions can last up to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face, in groups, or via the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to talk about relationships, friendships and family issues and also work-related issues.
A counselor will pay attention to your problems and offer an objective view. They will be able identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can teach you techniques and coping strategies to manage anxiety, stress or depression. They can assist you in adapting to major life changes, such as divorce or loss of a loved one. They can also show you how to cope with addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have mental health care plans from your doctor.