ADHD Treatments For Adults
Most doctors recommend stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate. They help balance levels of two chemical messengers within the brain. Antidepressants and Atomoxetine (Strattera) are also able to reduce symptoms, but they do so slower.
Psychotherapy, along with cognitive behavioral therapy, helps adults to improve their planning and organizational abilities. Coaching and psychotherapy are also able to improve social functioning.
Medicines
You can use medications to treat ADHD symptoms. Some people feel better after changing their diet or taking supplements. However, these should only ever be used under the guidance of a doctor. Other options include psychotherapy, cognitive therapy (CBT) as well as counseling for families. Some adults with ADHD struggle to stay on their medication. They should consult their doctor and seek assistance. Some medications are available over-the-counter and others require the prescription of a doctor.
The majority of the medications prescribed for ADHD are effective in increasing the levels of dopamine in your brain, which decreases impulsivity and enhances concentration. The most popular drugs are stimulants, such as dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate. These are considered to be the most effective for ADHD treatment, but they can have adverse effects. Cardiovascular problems are some of the most serious adverse effects. In addition, stimulants can cause antics, such as eye blinking or throat clearing. These medications can also delay growth by a few month for teenagers and children.
add natural treatment are prescribed to people who suffer from insufferable side-effects of stimulants, or are at risk of heart disease. These are mostly dopamine reuptake inhibitors or alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists. These aren't as effective as stimulants, however they are safe and don't have the potential for abuse that some people are prone to with stimulant drugs.
You can reduce your ADHD symptoms by adhering to a schedule, creating and sticking to the strict guidelines of a budget, enhancing your organization skills, understanding about your condition and implementing strategies to manage your symptoms. Talk to a doctor about the best ways to manage your disorder. You can also find a wealth of useful resources on the site of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Association.
Your ADHD symptoms can strain your relationships. Talking to a therapist about how you interact with your family members or friends and taking classes to learn conflict resolution can help. You can also improve your relationships by helping them understand how ADHD affects you, and also recognizing that some of your behavior are not intentionally mean-spirited.
Therapy
ADHD in adulthood can have significant social, emotional, and occupational effects. These include lower academic achievement and higher rates of job failure and transfer and poor performance at work. There are also more car accidents and higher divorce rates than the general population. Adults with ADHD are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or addiction to drugs. Those with comorbid conditions may be more difficult to respond to stimulant medications (Barkley and Gordon 2002).
A thorough patient history is vital, as many medical conditions can manifest similar to symptoms of ADHD. Patients with developmental disorders, seizure disorder sleep apnea, thyroid disorders should be evaluated more carefully. The use of stimulants is not recommended for patients with active substance abuse or those suffering from certain medical conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure, arrhythmias and tachycardia (Greenhill 2001).
Psychosocial therapy for adults with ADHD includes psychoeducation and behavioral therapy. Psychoeducation is the process of educating patients about their condition and its impact on various aspects of their lives and relationships. Psychoeducation can help patients improve their self-esteem, especially those who are often stigmatized as being inept or unintelligent.
The goal of behavioral therapy for adults suffering from ADHD is to enhance their ability to organize their lives and teach them how to organize their time. This can reduce the chances of missing appointments or making decisions that are impulsive and could cause problems in school, at work, or with their personal lives. This type of therapy may improve the relationship of a person with their spouse, children and colleagues.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults suffering from ADHD is focused on helping individuals change their behavior patterns that are negative. This kind of therapy is extremely efficient in improving the functioning of people suffering from ADHD, particularly when combined with family therapy and psychoeducation. Informing patients and loved ones about ADHD can help decrease the likelihood of blaming one another for problems caused by the person's inability to control their own behavior. Classes that help couples and families to communicate more effectively and improve their conflict resolution skills can also help.
Counseling
A successful treatment strategy will address the symptoms of ADHD and their effects on school, work, and the family. It will include stimulant and nonstimulant medications and psychosocial therapy, notably cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps patients change the way they think about their behavior. It also teaches patients how to manage their symptoms, and improve their relationships with their family and friends.
Stimulant medication is used to treat ADHD. They help to regulate and boost levels of brain chemicals referred to as neurotransmitters. They've been around for a long period of time, and there are many kinds of medications each with their distinct advantages and negative effects. The two most frequently prescribed stimulants are methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine. These are sold under many brand names, including Ritalin and Adderall. Other drugs used to treat ADHD include atomoxetine, which helps by increasing the amount of a substance in the brain that passes messages between brain cells and viloxazine which is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Viloxazine and atomoxetine are commonly used to treat ADHD in adults since they are more gradual in onset than stimulants. They are also available to those who are unable to take stimulants because of other health issues or have serious adverse effects.
It is crucial to keep in mind that comorbidities can mimic ADHD symptoms. Therefore the severity and presence of other conditions should be considered when diagnosing ADHD. It's also important to rule out physical reasons for the symptoms, such as a thyroid disorder or hearing and vision problems.
It's also worth noting that some patients may be able to reduce their ADHD symptoms by changing their diet. However, it's essential to seek medical advice prior to cutting out any food, as this can lead to nutritional deficiencies. This should only be done with the assistance of a doctor or a dietician. Counseling can help patients manage their symptoms, and also improve their relationships with their family. Counseling can help spouses understand that the patient's behavior not necessarily a sign they are unloving or malicious.
Education
The diagnosis of ADHD can be confusing for both the patient and the doctor. Other mental disorders can coexist with ADHD, and certain medications and medical conditions may cause symptoms that mimic ADHD.
Treatment or lifestyle changes can help with many of these issues. For instance, a person suffering from ADHD could benefit from changing their diet or taking supplements to improve their eating habits, for instance. Behavioral therapy could help the person to be more resistant to distractions and impulsiveness, improve his focus and develop self-control. A doctor may suggest cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or a mindfulness meditation practice, both of which can help manage emotions and increase focus.
A thorough history of the symptoms is crucial as is a physical examination. A physician can also evaluate patients for sleep apnea, hearing and thyroid problems, vision problems as well as lead poisoning, alcohol or drug abuse. In addition to determining if there is a possibility of an underlying cause, these evaluations can help identify or lessen the effects of other disorders that could cause an individual's ADHD-like behavior.
Most commonly, stimulants are prescribed by physicians for ADHD. These include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate as well as Concerta and Adderall. Other non-stimulant drugs include clonidine as well as Guanfacine. These blood pressure medications can aid in reducing the impulsivity and hyperactivity, but they can take longer to work and can cause negative side effects, such as constipation, heartburn, and low sexual desire.
People suffering from ADHD frequently have trouble keeping appointments and are often late to work, and make irrational choices that can be a challenge for even the most forgiving family members and friends. Couples therapy and classes that focus on improving communication skills can help sufferers build relationships that are stable.
Diet, exercise and stress reduction can all be a factor in reducing ADHD symptoms. Some people with ADHD have reported that cutting out certain foods or taking supplements has helped them. However, it's essential to consult with a physician prior to attempting any of these methods. If you try this without consulting with a physician, it could lead to nutritional deficiency and other health issues.