Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counselling and drugs. Both are crucial to test 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 levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels are usually increased as part of treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are available in prescription medications such as amphetamines, methylphenidates and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They are also illegally abused and are often mixed with other substances such as cocaine and methcathinone. They are available as pills, liquids, syrups or patches.
They increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses, thereby improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and enhance working memory. They are the most frequently prescribed medication for people suffering from ADHD. They can cause side effects such as decreased appetite, trouble sleeping and a rise in blood pressure or heart rate. They can interfere with some medical and pharmaceutical treatments, so it's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
The use of medications can help reduce ADHD symptoms in around 70% to 80% of people who are taking them. Different people respond in a different way to the medication and the effects may not last long.
Some people find that stimulants don't work for them or they don't like the negative effects. In this case, doctors will prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These medications aren't as efficient as stimulants but they can help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these with stimulants to increase their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medications take longer to get started and they don't react as quickly. They affect neurotransmitters differently from stimulants, and they do not increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine (clonidine) as well as guanfacine and the clonidine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side effect. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking them prior to bedtime. The drowsiness will diminish in the following weeks after beginning treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants work by changing chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. The medications are classified according to how they act on neurotransmitters. Each group has slightly different medications. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Your health care provider might prescribe a medication belonging to one of these groups in order to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It may take several weeks to feel the full benefit. You and your doctor will determine which medication is best for you. They may combine two antidepressants or add other medications to enhance the effectiveness of your treatment. treatment of add in adults is called augmentation. The most common augmentation medications are Aripiprazole (Abilify) as well as quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants may have a variety of side effects. treatment for adult add is important to speak with your doctor about these side effects since some of them could interfere with your daily activities. These side effects could be mild or serious, 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 frequently prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have fewer side-effects than other antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs boost levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is why SNRIs are thought to be more efficient than SSRIs. They also have a shorter half-life and are less likely than SSRIs to interact with other medications. The SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are utilized to boost your energy levels which help you feel more alert. They can be helpful for people with anxiety or insomnia. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause jitteriness, sleepiness or drowsiness. However, they are beneficial to many people suffering from depression, ADHD and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia and to assist smokers in quitting.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural issues
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a scientifically-based treatment for mental health issues. It is based on the belief that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected and can be altered. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that helps you discover new strategies to handle stressors and negative habits. It can be used to treat depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
CBT seeks to transform unhelpful thoughts and emotions into positive thoughts or behaviours. The method is a mix of two treatments which are cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that's usually short-term, and can be done in a private or group setting. A therapist will guide you through different techniques, and you'll practice them in your everyday life. These techniques include understanding how to recognize negative automatic thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping journals.
A therapist can assist you in identifying negative thoughts that cause you to take on a negative behavior and help you learn to change your beliefs. They'll also teach you problem-solving techniques so that you are able to face challenges in your daily life. CBT therapists encourage you to set SMART goals to make it easier for you to keep track of your progress.
While each form of CBT takes a different approach, all cognitive behavior therapies focus on identifying and modifying the thinking patterns that cause emotional distress. Therapists employ a variety of techniques, but most are built on the principles of operant and classical conditioning, which involve associating stimuli with their effects. During the treatment the person who is treating you will give you a reward for completing tasks and will punish those who fail to complete them.
During your initial sessions together, your therapist and you will identify problematic behaviors and replace them by healthy ones. They may also assign homework to help you develop the abilities. Depending on the severity of your condition it could take anywhere from 6-20 one-on-one sessions.
CBT is effective in treating a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic disorders (PTSD). It can also be effective for adult ADHD, which affects people as young as seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy which uses regular, scheduled sessions with the therapy (counsellor) to discuss your problems. Usually these sessions last for approximately 50 minutes and may be face-to-face in groups, or via the telephone. Counselling can aid people suffering from many mental health issues like schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to talk about relationships, friendships and family issues - and also work-related issues.
A counsellor will pay attention to your concerns and offer an objective viewpoint. They can detect patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can teach you strategies for coping and strategies for managing stress, anxiety or depression. treatment of add in adults can assist you in dealing with major life events, such as divorce or the loss of a loved one. They can help you learn to manage addictions and chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge for their services while others are covered by Medicare rebates, if you have mental health plans from your doctor.