Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling

Counseling and drugs are both effective treatment options for ADD. It is crucial to test both to determine which is more efficient.

People with classic ADD tend to be inattentional and disorganized, as well as hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. They also have low dopamine levels. Dopamine levels are usually increased in the course of treatment.

Stimulants

Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are available in the form of prescription drugs like amphetamines, methylphenidates, as well as diet aids like Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They can also be used illegally and often mixed with other substances like methcathinone and cocaine. They can be consumed as syrups, pills or liquids, or patches that are placed on the skin.

They increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine that are present in the brain's synapses, thereby improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity, and improve working memory. They are the most frequently prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They can trigger adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, insomnia and a rise in heart rate or blood pressure. They can interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It's important to talk to your doctor about any concerns.

Medications can reduce ADHD symptoms in 70 percent to 80% of those who use them. However, not all people respond to the same medication, and the effects aren't always long-lasting.

Some people discover that stimulants don't work for them, or they can't tolerate the negative effects. If this is the case, doctors may prescribe non-stimulant drugs. These medications aren't as efficient as stimulants, but they do help improve focus, attention and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these with stimulants to increase their effectiveness.

Nonstimulant medications take longer to begin working and don't work as fast. They affect neurotransmitters in a different way than stimulants, and they don't raise dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine and guanfacine. The most frequently reported side effect of these medications is drowsiness. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dose or taking them before the time of bed. 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 classified according to how they act on neurotransmitters. Each group is comprised of somewhat different medications. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

A medical professional may start you on a medication from one of these groups to help alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It could take a few weeks to experience the full benefit. treatment for adhd adults and you will decide the best treatment for you. You may also take other medications or combine two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is known as an augmentation. The most popular augmentation medicines are Aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).

Antidepressants can cause a variety of adverse effects. It's important to talk to your doctor about these side effects because some could affect your daily activities. These side effects can range from mild to extreme and depend on the type of antidepressant you're taking. You should also tell your doctor about any other medicines or herbal remedies you're taking, including prescription drugs and herbal remedies such as St. John's wort.

SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have less side-effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs are fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).

SNRIs boost levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is the reason SNRIs are considered 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 used for their energizing effects, helping you to feel more awake. They can be helpful for people suffering from anxiety or insomnia. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban, Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause jitteriness or insomnia however they can be beneficial for those suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia and to help smokers quit.

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems is a well-established treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the belief that feelings and thoughts are connected and can be altered. CBT is a goal-oriented, short-term program that teaches you new ways to cope with negative stressors and bad habits. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.

CBT seeks to transform unhelpful thoughts and emotions into positive feelings or behaviours. It is an amalgamation of two treatments: cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. This type of psychotherapy is usually short-term and can be done in a group setting or individually. The therapist will instruct you on different techniques, and you'll practice them in your daily routine. These techniques include: understanding how to recognize negative automatic thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping journals.

A therapist can also help you identify the negative thoughts that cause maladaptive behaviors and then provide strategies to change these assumptions. They'll also teach you problem solving techniques to help you handle challenges that come up in your day-to-day life. CBT therapists encourage you to set SMART goals in order to make it easier for you to monitor your progress.

While each type of cognitive behavior therapy has an approach that is slightly different however, they all concentrate on identifying the fundamental thoughts which contribute to emotional distress and transforming them. The therapists will use different methods, but they are all based on the concepts of operant and classical conditioning, which involves relating stimuli with their effects. During the therapy the trainer will be rewarded for your accomplishments and penalize those who fail to complete the tasks.


During the first few sessions, your therapist will help you identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You might be assigned homework to help you develop the abilities. Depending on the nature of your condition it could take anywhere from 6-20 one-on-one sessions.

CBT can be utilized to treat a variety of ailments, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also effective for adults suffering from ADHD which affects individuals as young as seven.

Counselling

Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled meetings with the therapy (counsellor) to discuss your problems. The sessions can last from 30 minutes to 50 minutes, and they can be conducted face-to-face, in groups, or via the phone. Counselling can be utilized to treat a variety of mental health issues, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family, and relationship issues, as well as workplace-related problems.

A counsellor will pay attention to your problems and provide an objective view. They will be able to detect patterns of behavior and suggest ways you can alter them. They can help you learn techniques and coping strategies to manage stress, anxiety or depression. They can assist you in adapting to major life changes like divorce or loss of a loved one. They can also teach you how to deal with chronic illnesses and addictions.

Some counsellors charge fees for their services, and others may be covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have a mental health plan from your doctor.