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 tend to be inattentive and unorganized, aswell as hyperactive. They have a lack of blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and the basal Ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment typically involves increasing dopamine levels.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase the efficiency of the body's systems. They are legal as prescription drugs, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and the methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used, often mixed with other substances, including cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They can be taken in the form of syrups, pills, liquids or patches that are placed on the skin.
They boost concentration by increasing levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain synapses. They also reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and help improve working memory. They are the most frequently used medications prescribed to adults suffering from ADHD. They can cause side-effects such as decreased appetite or trouble sleeping, as well as an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They can also interfere with certain medical treatments and medications It is important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
About 70% to 80 percent of those who use 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 fond of stimulants or can't tolerate their negative effects. In this situation doctors may prescribe nonstimulant medication. They aren't as effective as stimulants, but they can aid in improving attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
treating adult adhd take longer to effect and aren't as effective. treating adults with adhd affect neurotransmitters in a different way than stimulants, and they do not increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Examples include the atomoxetine (clonidine) and guanfacine and Clonidine. The most common side effect of these medications is drowsiness. However the drowsiness can be decreased by increasing the dose or taking them before the time of bed. The drowsiness will diminish in a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants alter chemicals in the brain, referred to as neurotransmitters. They are grouped according to how they affect these neurotransmitters, with each class having a variety of medications that perform in slightly different ways. 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 that belongs to one of these groups in order to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It could take a few weeks before you feel the full benefit. You and your doctor will decide which medication works best for you. They may add additional medications or combine two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is known as augmenting. The most commonly used enhancement drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine, and lithium.
Different antidepressants can have different side effects. treating adult add is recommended to discuss these side effects with your doctor because they could interfere with your daily activities. These side effects may be mild or serious depending on the kind 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. John's Wort.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and are known to have fewer side-effects than other antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase 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 drugs. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants can be utilized to boost energy and make you feel more alert. They can be helpful for people suffering from anxiety or insomnia. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness, however they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. They are also used to treat bulimia and for smoking cessation.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural issues
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a proven treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the belief that thoughts and feelings are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented procedure that can help you learn new ways to deal with stressors and negative habits. It can be used to treat bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.
CBT aims to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive feelings or behaviours. The technique is a mixture of two treatments, cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that's usually short-term, and can be performed in a group or an individual setting. You will be taught various techniques by a therapist, and then you'll use them in your everyday life. These techniques include understanding how to recognize negative thoughts as well as practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping an account of your thoughts.
A therapist can also help you identify the negative thoughts that can lead to behavior that is not optimal and teach you strategies to change these beliefs. They will also show you how to tackle issues that arise in your daily life. CBT therapists will encourage you to set SMART goals in order to help you to keep track of your progress.
While each form of CBT employs a distinct approach, all cognitive behavior therapies are focused on identifying and changing fundamental thoughts that cause emotional distress. Therapists employ different methods but they are all based on the principles of operant and classical conditioning that involves associating stimuli to their effects. During the treatment, the trainer will reward you for completing tasks and punish you for not completing the tasks.
During the first few sessions, your therapist will work with you to identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You might be assigned homework to help you develop the skills. You could require anywhere between six and twenty one-onone sessions, based on the degree and nature of your condition.
CBT can be used to treat a number of disorders that include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also effective in treating adult ADHD, a condition that can affect people as young as seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled meetings with an therapy (counsellor) to discuss your problems. Typically, these sessions last about 50 minutes. They can be face to face, 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 relationship, friendship and family issues - as well as work-related difficulties.
A counsellor will pay attention to your concerns and offer an objective viewpoint. They will be able to discern patterns of behavior and suggest ways you can alter them. They can teach you techniques and coping strategies to manage stress, anxiety or depression. They can help you cope with major life events, such as divorce or the loss of a loved. They can also teach you how to deal with chronic illnesses and addictions.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services while others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have mental health care plans from your doctor.