Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (in short, ADHD) is a common mental disorder. Of all ages groups, kids sport bigger ADHD risks. ADHD may limit your ability to stay focused; it can have an adverse impact on your academic performance at school. It may also affect interpersonal relationships as well as your daily tasks. ADHD - if not treated in a timely manner - can cause poor self-esteem. But indeed can be best ADHD med for adults with anxiety? It helps to have more details.
ADHD is of several forms; it is typified based on how severe it is. Of the many forms, three (3) main types of ADHD are well-evidenced and symptoms documented. These include
- Predominantly inattentive – If you have it, you may have challenges staying focused; you may seldom complete tasks you take-up and you may face difficulties organizing stuff
- Predominantly hyperactive and / or impulsive – Here, you may see excessive movements like fidgeting a lot; you may have excessive levels of energy and you may have problems sitting still. This form of ADHD causes people living with it talk more. Added to this, you tend to be more impulsive; you may do things not thinking of consequences
- Combined forms of ADHD – This is when you tend to have problems in concentrating on things and also turning very impulsive
What causes ADHD?
Incidence of neuro conditions like ADHD are largely attributed to your genetic make-up. Your child may get affected by neurodivergence at birth. This leads to a few changes at his / her genes. Such changes may result in brain development issues.
If one of your parents had (or is having) ADHD, the odds of your getting it is quite high! There are also cases wherein siblings of the same parent(s) may develop this developmental disorder.
Clinical studies are actively working to unearth how ADHD affects your brain and how you can best manage this condition. Among people living with ADHD, the frontal lobe of your brain is wired to do many things at the same time. You may find difficulties in channeling your attention on stuff for long.
Directed attention is helpful in planning, multitasking, and to stay on with a problem / challenge till it is solved. You need quite a lot of energy to tap into directed attention, especially when equally-compelling things are competing for your attention. ADHD in adults ADHD may also affect adults.
Studies show ~ 6% of adults – males and females alike – in the US have some form of ADHD. This finding is based on diagnostic data collected of this developmental condition. Another recent study indicates nearly half of adults with ADHD stand diagnosed of it only in their adulthood! Beware of the changing symptoms of ADHD; yes, these keep changing over an extended span of time. Therefore, ADHD in children is seldom the same as that in an adult. In case of adults, ADHD may impair relationships – both at work and home.
It often takes a mental health specialist to diagnose onset of ADHD. However, in some cases, primary care providers have also diagnosed this condition. Your psychiatrist may perform a complete evaluation of your mental health, its nature and can develop an apt treatment plan.
There are metrics available with mental caregivers to assess this neuro condition. Also, with a detailed understanding of the signs, your clinical track-record, assessment of your childhood years / your behaviors then – your caregiving team can arrive at a fairly accurate diagnosis. Your family history, your parent’s health conditions and siblings’ mental wellbeing may also play an active role.
There are also instances your psychiatrist may need to refer you to another specialist or order a panel of brain scans to rule out other probable ailments he / she suspects of.
Best ADHD medication for adults with anxiety
Mental health caregivers are known to prescribe meds of family called antidepressants. Of this broader genre, drugs belonging to a class called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (i.e., SSRIs) are more commonly used. Some of these meds fare in the first-line treatment plans offered for treating anxiety-related disorders. Meds of another genre called Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are also widely administered
Improvement in symptoms of your anxiety helps you stay focused and concentrate on stuff you want to do. Hence, anxiety-management drugs may obviate the need for ADHD-treating meds. However, there are instances wherein medications for both anxiety management as well as ADHD may be needed among some adults. Some meds like Adderall and / or Ritalin are popular to treat symptoms.
A few other medications include:
Strattera – generic drug: atomoxetine - is an SNRI. It acts on your neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine. This also plays a vital role in treating symptoms of ADHD
Effexor – generic chemical being venlafaxine – too is SNRI. It however does not have the approval of US-based med-clearing agency Food & Drug Administration ( FDA) to treat ADHD. However, limited research done on it shows it to lessen ADHD symptoms among adults – both in males and females. It is a key to know this does have FDA approval for treatment of mental conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD, in short), panic disorders / phobias, anxieties, etc.
Bupropion sold as brand Wellbutrin is another medication - an atypical antidepressant. However, caregivers use it off-label for managing symptoms of ADHD in adults
Qelbree – generic name: viloxazine - is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It boosts the level of norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is one of the neurotransmitters associated with regulation of moods as well as attention span. This med has FDA clearance for treating ADHD across all age groups – starting from 6 years old children to adults.
ADHD meds can improve directed-attention and make you focus on stuff you do. Quality of life improves in most users. Caregivers proactively monitor your activities all through your treatment plan; this is needed to know how meds they prescribe are functioning. Your caregivers also look for side effects – if any. Based on real-time tracking of your health condition, caregivers often reduce / boost your dosage plan(s).