Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include drugs and counselling. Both are crucial to test to determine which is more effective.
People suffering from classic ADD are disorganized, inattentional and often hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels tend to increase in the course of treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants accelerate the body's systems. adhd treatment in adults are legal as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and the methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used, often mixed with other substances, including cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available in the form of syrups, liquids, pills or patches.
They increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses, thereby improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and help improve working memory. These are the most common medication prescribed to people suffering from ADHD. They can cause side-effects such as a decreased appetite, difficulties sleeping, as well as an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They can also interfere with certain medical and pharmaceutical treatments, so it's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
adhd adults treatment can lessen ADHD symptoms in 70% to 80% of the people who take them. However, not all people respond to the same medication and the effects don't always long-lasting.
Some people discover that stimulants don't work for them or they aren't able to handle the side effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe nonstimulant drugs. They aren't as effective as stimulants, but they do help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors may prescribe them along with stimulants to boost their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medications take longer to work and aren't as effective. They don't raise dopamine levels, and they have different effects on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine and guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most commonly reported side effect. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking them at the time of bed. The drowsiness will subside within a few weeks of the beginning of treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, referred to as neurotransmitters. They are classified based on how they affect neurotransmitters, with each class having a variety of medications 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 health care provider might prescribe a medicine that belongs to one of these groups to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications might not provide immediate relief. It can take several weeks before you feel their full benefits. Your doctor and you will determine the best treatment for you. You may also take additional medications or combine two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is called augmentation. The most popular augmentation medicines are Aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants can cause a variety of side effects. It is essential to talk with your doctor about these side effects as some may interfere with your daily activities. These side effects can range from mild to severe and can depend on the type of antidepressant you're taking. It is also important to inform your doctor about any other medications or herbal remedies you're taking, such as over-the-counter drugs and herbs like St. John's wort.
SSRIs have been found to cause fewer side effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs boost levels of serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. This is why SNRIs are considered more efficient than SSRIs. They also have longer half-lifes than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other drugs. SNRIs are duloxetine, (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine, (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants can be utilized to boost energy and help you feel more awake. They could be helpful for people suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban, Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness, but they can be beneficial for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. These medications are also used to treat bulimia and to help smokers quit.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based upon the idea that thoughts and feelings are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented procedure that can help you learn new ways to deal with negative thoughts and stressors. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and emotions into positive feelings or behaviours. The method is a mix of two different therapies, cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. This type of psychotherapy is usually short-term, and can be carried out in a group setting or individually. You will be taught various techniques by a therapist, and then you'll apply them in daily life. These techniques include learning to recognize negative thoughts as well as practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a journal.
A therapist will also help you identify the negative thoughts that lead to maladaptive behaviors and then teach you strategies to change these beliefs. They will also show you how to tackle issues that arise in your daily life. CBT therapists advise you to set SMART goals to make it easier for you to track your progress.
Although each type of cognitive behavioral therapy employs an entirely different approach, they all focus on identifying the thoughts that cause emotional distress and changing them. Therapists employ various methods however they all are based on the principle of operant and classical conditioning that involves the association of stimuli with their effects. During the treatment the person who is treating you will give you a reward for completing tasks and punish those who fail to complete them.
In your initial sessions together, your therapist and you will look for problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You might be assigned homework to help you master the skills. Based on the severity of your condition it could take anywhere from 6-20 one-on-one sessions.
CBT is effective in treating a range of conditions, including anxiety depression and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It can also be effective in treating adult ADHD, a condition that affects people as young seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist in order to discuss your concerns. Typically, these sessions last around 50 minutes and may be face-to-face in groups, or via phone. Counselling can help people with many mental health issues including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. adhd treatment in adults can also be used to talk about relationship, friendship and family issues - as well as work-related difficulties.
A counsellor will listen carefully to your problems and offer an objective viewpoint. They can identify patterns of behaviour and suggest ways you can change them. They can help you learn techniques and coping strategies to manage stress, anxiety, or depression. They can assist you in dealing with major life changes, like divorce or the loss of a beloved. They can also help you learn how to deal with addictions or chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge a fee for their services, and others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have a mental health care plan from your doctor.