Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counseling and medication. Both are crucial to test to see which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be irritable and unorganized, aswell as hyperactive. They lack blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and the basal Ganglia. They also have low dopamine levels. Dopamine levels are usually increased in the course of treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are legal as prescription drugs, including amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and the methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin; and illegally used often in combination with other substances, like methcathinone and cocaine (crack). They are available in the form of pills, liquids, syrups or patches.
They boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain's synapses, improving concentration. They also reduce impulsivity, hyperactivity and help improve working memory. They are the most frequently prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They can trigger negative side effects, such as a decreased appetite, sleep disturbances and an increase in heart rate or blood pressure. They can interact with certain medicines and medical conditions. It's important to talk with your physician about any concerns.
The use of medications can help reduce ADHD symptoms in 70 percent to 80% of people who use them. However, not everyone responds to the same medication, and the effects aren't always long-lasting.
Some people find that stimulants don't work well, or they can't tolerate the negative effects. In this instance doctors will prescribe non-stimulant medication. They aren't as effective as stimulants but they can help improve focus, attention and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these drugs together with stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to get started, and they don't act as fast. They affect neurotransmitters in a different way than stimulants, and don't raise dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine, clonidine and the guanfacine. The most common side effect of these medications is the feeling of drowsiness. The drowsiness is reduced by increasing the dosage or taking the medication at the time of sleep. The drowsiness should diminish within a few weeks after beginning treatment.
Antidepressants
The majority of antidepressants alter the chemical composition in the brain, called neurotransmitters. The medications are grouped by the way they affect 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 reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. These medicines may not provide immediate relief, as it could take a few weeks before you experience the full benefits. You and your doctor will decide which medication works best for you. You may also take other medications or mix two antidepressants to enhance your treatment. This is known as an augmentation. The most common augmentation medications are Aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants may have a variety of adverse effects. It's important to talk to your doctor about the side effects as some may interfere with your daily activities. These effects can be mild or severe dependent on the type of antidepressant you're taking. Inform your doctor if you're taking any other medications, such as herbal remedies and prescription drugs such as St. treat adhd in adults .
SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have less side-effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs boost levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is why they're considered to be 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 are utilized to boost your energy levels and help you feel more awake. They can be beneficial for people who have anxiety or insomnia that is very severe. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause insomnia or jitteriness but they can be helpful for people suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. They are also used to treat the treatment of bulimia as well as for smoking cessation.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural issues
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems is a well-established treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the belief that feelings and thoughts are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is a goal-oriented short-term program that teaches you new ways to cope with problems and bad habits. It can be used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
The aim of CBT is to change negative thoughts into positive emotions and behaviors. The technique is a mixture of two different therapies which are cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. This kind of psychotherapy is typically short-term and can be done in a group setting or on an individual basis. A therapist will guide you through different methods, and you'll apply them in your daily life. These techniques include learning how to recognize negative automatic thoughts; practicing mindfulness meditation; and keeping a journal.
A Therapist can also assist you in identifying negative thoughts that cause you to take on a negative 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 in order to help you to track your progress.
Although each type of CBT has its own approach, all cognitive behavioral therapies focus on identifying and modifying the thinking patterns that cause emotional distress. The therapists use a variety of methods, but they are all based on the principles of classical and operant conditioning, which involves relating stimuli with their effects. In treatment, you will be rewarded for completing tasks. You'll also be penalized when you fail to complete them.
In the initial few sessions the therapist will work with you to identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. You might be assigned homework to help you develop the abilities. You may need between six and twenty one-on-one sessions, depending on the nature and severity of your condition.
CBT can be utilized to treat a variety of ailments that include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also be effective for adults with ADHD which affects individuals as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy that uses regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist in order to discuss your concerns. The sessions can last from 30 minutes to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face, in groups, or by phone. Counselling can help people with various mental health issues, including schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family, and relationship issues as well as work-related problems.
A counsellor will pay attention to your problems and provide an objective perspective. They will be able identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to change them. They will be able to teach you coping skills and techniques for managing stress, anxiety or depression. They can assist you in adapting to major life changes like divorce or the loss of loved ones. They can also teach you how to deal with addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others may be covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have a mental health care plan from your doctor.