Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counselling and drugs. Both are essential to determine which is more effective.
People suffering from classic ADD are disorganized, inattentional and often hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and the thalamus. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment usually involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are available as prescription drugs such as amphetamines, methylphenidates, as well as diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They can also be used illegally and are often mixed with other substances such as cocaine and methcathinone. They can be taken in the form of syrups, pills or liquids, or patches which are applied to the skin.
They increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses, improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and improve working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for people suffering from ADHD. They can trigger negative side effects, such as a decreased appetite, sleep disturbances and a rise in heart rate or blood pressure. They may interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is essential to talk with your doctor regarding any concerns.
About 70% to 80 percent of those who are taking ADHD medications will experience a reduction in symptoms. However, not everyone responds to the same medication and the effects aren't always long-lasting.
Some people discover that stimulants don't work for them or they don't like the side effects. In this situation, doctors will prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These medications may not be as effective as stimulants, but they can improve focus and attention and control impulses. Doctors sometimes prescribe these along with stimulants to increase their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to effect and don't work as quickly. They affect neurotransmitters differently from stimulants, and they do not increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Examples include the atomoxetine (clonidine), guanfacine, and clonidine. The most common side effect of these medicines is drowsiness. The drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dose or taking the medication at bedtime. The drowsiness will diminish in a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, referred to as neurotransmitters. The drugs are classified based on how they interact with neurotransmitters. treatment for adults with add 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).
treatment of add in adults may start you on one of these groups to help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. These medications might not provide immediate relief. It could take a few weeks to experience the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide on the most effective medication for you. They may combine two antidepressants or other medications to enhance the effects of your treatment. This is referred to as augmentation. The most common augmentation drugs are aripiprazole, quetiapine and lithium.
Antidepressants can have different side effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your physician since they could cause problems in your daily activities. These effects can be mild or serious depending on the kind of antidepressant that you are taking. Tell your doctor if you're taking any other medication, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter drugs like 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 paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) as well as sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain. This is why SNRIs are considered 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 are used to boost your energy levels and help you feel more awake. They could be helpful for people who have insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are two of the most commonly used. These medications can cause jitteriness or insomnia, but can be helpful for people suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. They are also used to treat the treatment of bulimia as well as to aid in quitting smoking.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a tried and true treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the belief that emotions and thoughts are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is a goal-oriented short-term program that teaches you new ways to cope with negative stressors and bad habits. It can be used to treat depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
CBT seeks to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive feelings or behaviours. The method is an amalgamation of two treatments: cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that's usually short-term, and can be done in a group or an individual setting. The therapist will instruct you on different methods, and you'll apply them in your everyday life. These techniques include learning to recognize negative thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping an account of your thoughts.
A Therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that cause you to engage in maladaptive behavior, and show you how to change these thoughts. They will also show you how to tackle issues in your daily routine. Therapists in CBT will also help you to develop goals that are SMART (specific goals that are measurable, achievable relevant, time-based, and relevant) to make it easier to track your progress.
Although each type of cognitive behavioral therapy takes an approach that is slightly different, they all focus on identifying the thoughts which contribute to emotional distress and changing them. The therapists will use different techniques, but the majority are based on the concepts of classical and operant conditioning, which involves relating the effects of stimuli with the stimulus. During the treatment the person who is treating you will reward you for completing tasks and punish you for not completing the tasks.
In the first few sessions your therapist will help you identify problem behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You might be given homework to help you develop the skills. It is possible that you will require anywhere between six and twenty one-onone sessions, based on the nature and severity of your condition.
CBT is effective in treating a range of disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It is also effective in treating adult ADHD, a condition that affects people as young seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy which uses planned, regular meetings with the therapist (counsellor) to discuss your issues. The sessions can last up to 50 minutes, and they can be conducted face-to-face in groups, or over the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to discuss relationship, family and friendship issues, as well as work-related problems.
A counselor will listen to your concerns and offer an objective viewpoint. They will be able identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They will be able to teach you coping strategies and strategies for managing stress, anxiety or depression. They can help you adjust to major life changes like divorce or the loss of loved ones. They can also teach you how to cope with addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, and others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have a mental health plan from your doctor.