Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Counseling and drugs are both effective treatments for ADD. It is important to try both to determine which is more efficient.
People with classic ADD are inattentive, disorganized and are often hyperactive. They have low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, basal Ganglia and thalamus. 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 can also be illegally used and are often mixed with other substances like cocaine and methcathinone. They are available in the form of liquids, pills, syrups or patches.
They increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses, improving concentration. They also reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and enhance working memory. They are the most frequently prescribed drug for adults with ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, sleep disturbances and an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They can interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is important to speak to your doctor about any concerns.
Around 70 to 80% people who are taking ADHD medication will experience reduced symptoms. Not all people respond the same way to the medication, and the effects might not last long.
Some people don't like stimulants or don't like their side effects. If this is the case, doctors could prescribe nonstimulant drugs. They aren't as effective as stimulants, but they can help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines take longer to effect and don't perform as efficiently. They do not raise dopamine levels, and they have a different impact on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine, clonidine 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 dose or taking them before the time of sleep. The drowsiness will subside within a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
The majority of antidepressants alter the chemical composition in the brain, which are known as neurotransmitters. The medications are classified according to how they act on neurotransmitters. Each group contains distinct 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 relieve depression or anxiety symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief, since it can take weeks before you feel the full benefits. Your doctor and you will determine the best treatment for you. They may add additional medications or combine two antidepressants to enhance your treatment. This is known as augmenting. The most commonly used augmentation drugs are Aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Different antidepressants can have different side effects. You should discuss these side effects with your doctor, as they may interfere in your daily activities. These side effects may be severe or mild, depending on the type antidepressant you're taking. Tell your doctor if you're taking any other medications, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter drugs like St. John's Wort.
SSRIs have been found to have fewer adverse effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs are fluoxetine (Prozac) and paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is why SNRIs are regarded as more efficient 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 utilized for their energizing effects which help you feel more alert. They can be beneficial for people with insomnia or severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are two of most popular. These medications can cause jitteriness, sleepiness or drowsiness. However, they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. They can also be used to treat bulimia and to aid in quitting smoking.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based on the idea that emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are connected and can be altered. CBT is a goal-oriented short-term process that can teach you new strategies to deal with stressors and bad habits. It can also be used to treat depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
The goal of CBT is to transform negative thoughts into positive feelings and behaviors. It is an amalgamation of two treatments which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. This kind of psychotherapy is usually short-term and can be performed in a group setting or individually. The therapist will instruct you on various methods, and you'll apply them in your 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 help you identify negative thoughts that lead you to engage in maladaptive behavior and teach you how to change these thoughts. They'll also teach you problem solving skills so that you can face challenges 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 thoughts which contribute to emotional distress and then changing them. The therapists use different techniques but they all operate on the principle of operant and classical conditioning, which involves associating stimuli to their effects. During treatment, you will be rewarded for the accomplishment of tasks. You will also be penalized if you fail to complete the task.
In the initial sessions, you and your therapist will look for problematic behaviors and replace them by healthy ones. You might be given homework to help you build the abilities. You could require between six and twenty one-on-one sessions, based on the degree and nature of your illness.
CBT is effective in treating a wide range of conditions, including anxiety depression, and post-traumatic disorders (PTSD). It also works for adult ADHD which affects individuals as young as seven.
add and treatment Iam Psychiatry is a type of psychotherapy that uses regular, scheduled meetings with a therapist to talk about your issues. Usually these sessions last for approximately 50 minutes and can be face to face, in groups or via the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health issues that include depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to discuss relationship, friendship and family issues, as well as issues related to work.
A counselor will listen attentively to your problems and offer an objective perspective. They can spot patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can also teach you strategies and coping skills for managing anxiety, stress or depression. They can help you cope with major life changes such as divorce or the loss of a beloved. They can also show you how to manage addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, whereas others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have a mental health plan from your doctor.