Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling

Treatment options for ADD include drugs and counselling. Both are crucial to test to see which is more effective.

People suffering from classic ADD are inattentive, disorganized and often hyperactive. They have low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and thalamus. They also have low dopamine levels. Treatment typically involves increasing the levels of dopamine.

Stimulants

Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are legally available as prescription drugs, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine), the methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used, often mixed with other substances, such as cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available in the form of pills, liquids, syrups or patches.

They increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain's synapses. This improves concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and help improve working memory. They are among the most commonly used medication prescribed to people suffering from ADHD. They can trigger side effects such as decreased appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They can interact with certain medicines and medical conditions. It is important to speak to your doctor about any concerns.

Around 70 to 80 percent of those who use ADHD medication will experience an improvement in symptoms. Different people respond in a different way to the medication and the effects may not last long.

Certain people find that stimulants aren't working well or they don't like the negative effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants, but they can aid in improving attention, focus and control of impulses. treatment of add prescribe these drugs together with stimulants to increase the effectiveness.

Nonstimulant medicines are more difficult to use and don't work as quickly. They affect neurotransmitters differently than stimulants, and don't increase dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine, clonidine and the guanfacine. The most frequent side effect of these medicines is sleepiness. The drowsiness is reduced by increasing the dosage or taking the medication at bedtime. The drowsiness will diminish in a few weeks after starting treatment.

Antidepressants

The majority of antidepressants alter chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. The drugs are classified based on how they interact with 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 in order to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms. These medications may not provide immediate relief. It could take a few weeks before you feel their full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide the best treatment for you. They can also add additional medications or combine two antidepressants to enhance your treatment. This is referred to as an augmentation. The most commonly used enhancement drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.

Antidepressants can cause a variety of adverse effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your physician, as they may interfere in your daily activities. These effects can be mild or severe, depending on the type antidepressant you're taking. It is also important to inform 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 commonly prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have fewer side-effects than other antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).

The SNRIs increase the levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine in the brain. This is the reason they're believed to be more efficient than SSRIs. They also have longer half-lifes than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other drugs. The SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine, (Effexor).

treatment of add in adults are utilized to boost your energy levels which help you feel more alert. They are beneficial for people with insomnia or severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are two of the most commonly used. These medications can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness, but they can be useful for many people suffering from depression, ADHD and anxiety. They are also used for bulimia and to aid in quitting smoking.

Cognitive therapy for behavioural issues

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected and can be changed. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that helps you discover new methods to manage anxiety and negative habits. It can be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

The aim of CBT is to reframe unhelpful thoughts into positive emotions and behaviors. The technique is the combination of two therapies that include cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. This type of psychotherapy is usually short-term and can be done in a group or on an individual basis. A therapist will teach you various techniques, and you'll practice them in your daily life. These techniques include: understanding how to recognize negative thoughts as well as practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a journal.

A therapist can assist you in identifying negative thoughts that can lead you to take on a negative behavior and teach you how to change your beliefs. They will also teach you how to tackle issues in your daily routine. CBT therapists will also encourage you to develop SMART goals (specific achievable, measurable relevant, time-based, and relevant) to help you track your progress.

Although each type of cognitive behavioral therapy takes an entirely different approach however, they all concentrate on identifying the underlying thoughts that cause emotional distress and changing them. Therapists employ various methods but they are all based on the principle of operant and classical conditioning, which involves associating stimuli to their effects. During treatment, you will be rewarded for completing tasks. Additionally, you will be punished if you fail to complete the task.

During your initial sessions with your therapist, you and the therapist will be able to identify the problematic behavior and replace them by healthy ones. You might be assigned homework to help you develop the skills. Depending on the severity of your condition you could require anywhere from 6-20 one-on-one sessions.

treatment for adults with add is effective in treating a range of disorders, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It also works for adult ADHD that affects people as young as seven.

Counselling

Counselling is a form of psychotherapy which uses regular, scheduled meetings with the therapy (counsellor) to discuss your concerns. Typically, these sessions last approximately 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 problems, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to talk about relationship, friendship and family issues, as well as issues related to work.

A counsellor will listen carefully to your problems and offer an objective perspective. They will be able identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can teach you techniques and coping skills for managing stress, anxiety, or depression. They can help you adjust to major life changes like divorce or the loss of loved ones. They can also teach you how to manage addictions and chronic illnesses.


Some counsellors charge for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates, if you have mental health care plans from your doctor.