Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counseling and medication. Both are essential to test to determine which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD are irritable, disorganized and often hyperactive. They have a lack of blood flow to the prefrontal cortex as well as the basal ganglia. They also have low dopamine levels. Treatment usually involves increasing dopamine levels.
Stimulants
Stimulants accelerate the body's systems. They are available as prescription drugs such as amphetamines, methylphenidates, and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They are also illegally abused and often mixed with other substances, such as methcathinone and cocaine. They can be taken as syrups, pills or liquids, or patches that are applied to the skin.
They boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain's synapses, thereby improving concentration. treatment adult adhd reduce impulsivity, hyperactivity and help improve working memory. These are the most common drugs prescribed to adults with ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulties sleeping, as well as an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They may interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is important to speak with your doctor regarding any concerns.
Around 70 to 80 percent of people who take ADHD medications will experience an improvement in symptoms. Different people respond in a different way to the medication, and the effects might not last long.
Some people aren't a fan of stimulants or aren't able to tolerate their negative effects. If this is the case, doctors could prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These medications may not be as effective as stimulants, but they can help improve concentration and focus as well as control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these medications along with stimulants to boost the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medications take longer to get started and don't work as fast. They affect neurotransmitters differently from stimulants, and they don't increase dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine and guanfacine. The most common side effect of these medicines is the feeling of drowsiness. However it is possible to reduce drowsiness by increasing the dosage or taking them prior to bedtime. The drowsiness will subside within a few weeks after beginning treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants affect the chemical substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. The drugs are classified based on how they act on 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 doctor may prescribe a medication that belongs to one of these groups to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications might not provide immediate relief, as it could take a few weeks before you experience the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide the most effective medication for you. They can also add other medications or combine two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is known as an augmentation. The most popular augmentation medicines are Aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants may have a variety of adverse effects. It is recommended to discuss these adverse effects with your doctor because they could interfere with your daily activities. These side effects can range from mild to severe and can depend on the type of antidepressant that you're taking. Inform your doctor if you're taking any other medications, including herbal remedies and prescription drugs like St. John's Wort.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have less adverse effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain. This is why SNRIs are thought to be 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 used to boost energy and make you feel more alert. They may be useful for people suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban, Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause insomnia or jitteriness but they can be helpful for many people who suffer from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. These medications are also used to treat bulimia and to help smokers quit.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a proven treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the belief that thoughts and feelings are connected and can be altered. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that can help you learn new ways to deal with negative thoughts and stressors. It can be used to treat depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
The aim of CBT is to change negative thoughts into positive emotions and behaviors. The method is the combination of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. It's a form of psychotherapy which is usually short-term, and it can be done in a private or group setting. You will be taught different techniques by a therapist and then you will practice them in daily life. Some of these techniques include: learning to recognize your negative automatic thoughts, implementing mindfulness meditation and keeping a mental journal.
A therapist can also assist you in identifying negative thoughts that cause you to engage in maladaptive behavior and help you learn to change these thoughts. They will also teach you how to deal with problems in your daily life. CBT therapists will encourage you to set SMART goals to make it easier for you to track your progress.
While each form of CBT employs a distinct approach, all cognitive behavioral therapies focus on identifying and changing underlying thoughts that contribute to emotional distress. Therapists employ different methods but they are all based on the principles of operant and classic conditioning which involves associating stimuli to their effects. While you are in treatment you will be rewarded for completing tasks. Additionally, you will be penalized for failing to complete them.
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. They might also assign homework to help you develop the techniques. You may need between six and twenty one-onone sessions, based on the nature and severity of your condition.
CBT can be used to treat a number of conditions that include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also works in treating adult ADHD, a condition that affects people as young seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy that uses regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist to talk about your issues. These sessions can last up to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-toface, in groups, or via the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health problems that include depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to talk about relationships, friendships and family issues and also work-related issues.
A counselor will listen attentively to your concerns and provide an objective view. They can identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can help you learn techniques and coping techniques to manage anxiety, stress or depression. They can help you cope with major life changes like divorce or the loss of a loved one. treatment adult adhd can also teach you how to manage addictions and chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have mental health plans from your doctor.