Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Counseling and drugs are both effective treatments for ADD. It is important to try both to determine which one is more effective.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be inattentional and disorganized, as well as hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and the basal Ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels are usually increased as part of treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are legally available as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) as well as methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin; and illegally used often in combination with other substances, including cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as pills, syrups or liquids, or patches that are applied to the skin.
They improve concentration by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. They also reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and enhance working memory. These are the most common medication prescribed to people suffering from ADHD. They can cause adverse effects such as decreased appetite or difficulties sleeping, as well as an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They may interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is essential to talk with your doctor regarding any concerns.
About 70-80 percent of those who use ADHD medications will experience reduced symptoms. Different people respond in a different way to the medication and the effects might not last long.
Certain people find that stimulants aren't working well, or they can't tolerate the side effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe nonstimulant drugs. They aren't as effective as stimulants but they can help improve focus, attention and control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs together with stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to get started and don't work as quickly. They don't raise dopamine levels and they have a different effect on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine, clonidine and the guanfacine. The most frequently reported adverse effect of these drugs is the feeling of drowsiness. The drowsiness is reduced by increasing the dose or taking the medication at the time of bed. The drowsiness will subside in the following weeks after beginning treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants work by changing the chemical substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. The drugs are classified based on the way they affect neurotransmitters. Each group is comprised of 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 medicine that belongs to one of these groups in order to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not provide immediate relief. It can take several weeks to experience the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide which medication works best for you. You may mix two antidepressants or add other medications to enhance the effectiveness of your treatment. This is known as an augmentation. The most popular augmenting drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.
Different antidepressants have distinct side effects. It is essential to talk with your doctor about these side effects since some of them could interfere with your daily activities. treatment of add in adults could be mild or severe, depending on the type antidepressant that you are taking. Inform your doctor if taking any other medication, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter drugs such as St. John's Wort.
SSRIs have been found to cause fewer side effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) as well as sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. This is why they are considered to be more effective than SSRIs. They also have longer half-lifes than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other medications. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are used for their energizing effects, helping you to feel more awake. They are beneficial for people with anxiety or insomnia. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban, Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause jitteriness, sleepiness or drowsiness, but they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. These medications are also used to treat bulimia and to help smokers quit.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems is a well-established treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the notion that feelings, thoughts, and behaviors are connected and can be altered. CBT is a measurable, short-term program that teaches you new strategies to deal with stressors and bad habits. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
The purpose of CBT is to reframe unhelpful thoughts into positive feelings and behaviours. The method is a combination of two therapies: cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy which is usually short-term, and can be performed in a group or individual setting. You will be taught different techniques by a therapist and then you'll use them in daily life. These techniques include: learning how to recognize negative thoughts as well as practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping journals.
A therapist will also help you identify the negative thoughts that lead to maladaptive behaviors and then teach you strategies to change these assumptions. They will also show you how to deal with problems in your daily life. CBT therapists advise you to set SMART goals to make it easier for you to keep track of your progress.
While each type of cognitive behavior therapy has an approach that is slightly different, they all focus on identifying the fundamental thoughts that cause emotional distress and then changing them. Therapists employ different methods but they all operate on the principles of operant and classical conditioning that involves associating stimuli to their effects. During treatment you will be rewarded for the accomplishment of tasks. You'll also be penalized for failing to complete the task.
In your initial sessions with your therapist, you and the therapist will identify problematic behaviors and replace them by healthy ones. You might be given homework to help you develop the skills. You could require anywhere from six to twenty one-on-one sessions, based on the severity and nature of your condition.
CBT can be used to treat a variety of disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). It also works in treating adult ADHD which affects people as young seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist to discuss your concerns. The typical session lasts around 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face in groups, or over the telephone. Counselling can be used to treat a range of mental health problems such as 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 counsellor will listen carefully to your issues and provide an objective view. They will be able identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to change them. They can also teach you strategies and coping strategies to manage anxiety, stress, or depression. They can help you deal with major life changes, like divorce or the loss of a loved. They can also teach you how to manage addictions and chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge a fee for their services, and others are covered by Medicare rebates if you have a mental health plan from your doctor.