Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counseling and medication. Both are important to test to determine which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be inattentive and unorganized, aswell being hyperactive. They have a low blood flow to their prefrontal cortex, basal Ganglia and the thalamus. They also have low dopamine levels. source web page involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants accelerate the body's systems. They are available legally as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine), methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin; and illegally used frequently mixed with other substances, including cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as syrups, pills or liquids, or patches that are applied to the skin.
They improve concentration by increasing levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain synapses. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and help improve working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed drug for adults with ADHD. They can trigger adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and a rise in blood pressure or heart rate. They can also interfere with certain medical treatments and medications, so it's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
Around 70 to 80 percent of people who use ADHD medications will notice a reduction in symptoms. Not all people respond the same way to the medication, and the effects may not last for long.
Certain people find that stimulants don't work for them or they aren't able to handle the side effects. In this situation doctors may prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These medications aren't as efficient as stimulants, but they can help improve focus, attention and control impulses. Doctors sometimes prescribe these along with stimulants to boost their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medications take longer to work and don't perform as efficiently. They don't raise dopamine levels, and they have a different effect on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine and Guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most commonly reported side result. However the drowsiness can be decreased by increasing the dosage or taking them prior to bedtime. The drowsiness will subside within a few weeks after the beginning of treatment.
Antidepressants
The majority of antidepressants alter the brain's chemical makeup, known as neurotransmitters. They are classified based on the way they affect these neurotransmitters, with each group having medications that work 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 medicine that belongs to one of these groups in order to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It could take a few weeks to feel the full benefits. You and your doctor will determine which medicine is best for you. They can mix two antidepressants, or add other medicines to boost the effectiveness of your treatment. This is referred to as augmenting. The most popular augmentation medicines are aripiprazole (Abilify) as well as quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Different antidepressants can have different side effects. It's important to talk to 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 kind of antidepressant you're taking. Inform your doctor if taking any other medication, including herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications like St. John's Wort.
SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants and are known to have fewer side-effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs are fluoxetine (Prozac) and paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is why they're considered to be more efficient than SSRIs. They also have a shorter half-life, and are less likely than SSRIs to interact with other medications. SNRIs are duloxetine, (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants can be used to boost energy and help you feel more awake. They could be helpful for people suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause jitteriness or insomnia but they can be helpful for many people who suffer from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia and also to aid smokers in quitting.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems is a well-established treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the idea that feelings and thoughts are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is a goal-oriented, short-term procedure that can teach you new strategies to deal with negative stressors and bad habits. It can be used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and feelings into positive feelings or behaviours. The method is the combination of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that is often short-term and is able to be carried out in a group or individual setting. You will be taught a variety of techniques by a therapist, and then you'll apply them in your everyday life. These techniques include: learning to recognize negative thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping a journal.
A Therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that can lead you to take on a negative behavior and teach you how to change your beliefs. They will also help you learn how to tackle issues in your daily life. CBT therapists encourage you to set SMART goals in order to help you to keep track of your progress.
While each kind of cognitive behavioral therapy employs an approach that is slightly different but they all are focused on identifying the thoughts which contribute to emotional distress and changing them. Therapists employ a variety of techniques, but most are based on the concepts of classical and operant conditioning, which involve associating the effects of stimuli with the stimulus. During treatment of adhd in adults will be rewarded for your accomplishments and will punish you for not completing the tasks.
In the initial sessions with your therapist, you and the therapist will identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. They might also assign homework to help you learn the skills. You could require between six and twenty one-onone sessions, based on the degree and nature of your illness.
CBT is effective in treating a wide range of disorders, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It is also effective for adult ADHD, which affects people as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy which uses planned, regular meetings with an therapy (counsellor) to discuss your problems. These sessions can last up to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face in groups, or by phone. Counselling can assist people suffering from a range of mental health issues, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about relationship, family and friendship issues as well as work-related problems.
A counsellor will pay attention to your problems and provide an objective perspective. They will be able to discern patterns of behavior and suggest ways you can alter them. They will be able to teach you coping skills and strategies for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can assist you in dealing with major life changes, like divorce or the loss of a loved. They can also show you how to deal with addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, whereas others may be covered by Medicare rebates if you have a mental health plan from your doctor.