Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include drugs and counselling. Both are crucial to determine which is more effective.
People with classic ADD are inattentive, disorganized and are often hyperactive. They have low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, the basal Ganglia and the thalamus. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment typically involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are available legally as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and the methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and also used illegally often in combination with other substances, such as cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as pills, liquids, syrups or patches.
They improve concentration by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. treatment for add reduce impulsivity, hyperactivity and enhance working memory. These are the most common medications prescribed to adults suffering from ADHD. They can cause adverse effects such as decreased appetite or trouble sleeping, as well as an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They can interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is important to speak with your doctor regarding any concerns.
About 70% to 80 percent of people who take ADHD medication will experience reduced symptoms. However, not everyone responds to the same medication, and the effects don't always lasting.
Certain people find that stimulants don't work well or they aren't able to handle the negative effects. If this is the case, doctors could prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants, but they do aid in improving attention, focus and control of impulses. Doctors may prescribe them along with stimulants to boost their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to work and don't perform as efficiently. They affect neurotransmitters differently than stimulants, and do not increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Examples include the atomoxetine (clonidine) and guanfacine and Clonidine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side consequence. However it is possible to reduce drowsiness by increasing the dose or taking them before the time of sleep. The drowsiness will diminish in a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
The majority of antidepressants alter the chemical composition in the brain, which are known as neurotransmitters. The drugs are classified based on how they interact with neurotransmitters. Each group is comprised of somewhat different medications. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Your doctor may prescribe a medication that belongs to one of these groups to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It may take several weeks before you feel the full benefits. You and your doctor will determine which medication is best for you. They can also add other medications or mix two antidepressants in order to improve your treatment. This is called augmentation. The most commonly used augmenting drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine, and lithium.
Different antidepressants can have different adverse effects. It is important to discuss these adverse effects with your doctor, as they may interfere in your daily activities. These side effects can vary from mild to extreme and depend on the type of antidepressant that you're taking. It is also important to inform your doctor about any other medicines or herbal remedies you're using, including over-the-counter drugs and herbs like St. John's wort.
SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have less side-effects than other types of antidepressants. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs boost levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine within the brain. This is why SNRIs are regarded as 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 levels and help you feel more awake. They may be useful for people who have insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are among the most popular. These medications can cause insomnia or jitteriness however they can be beneficial for people suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. They are also used to treat bulimia and to aid in quitting smoking.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a tried and true treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the belief that feelings and thoughts are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is a measurable, short-term procedure that can teach you new ways to cope with negative stressors and bad habits. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
CBT aims to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive thoughts or behaviours. The technique is a mixture of two treatments which are cognitive therapy and behavioral 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 different techniques by a therapist and then you'll use them in your daily life. Some of these techniques include: being able to recognize your negative automatic thoughts, practicing mindfulness meditation, and keeping a thought journal.
A Therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that cause you to take on a negative behavior and teach you how to change these thoughts. They'll also help you develop problem-solving skills so that you can deal with challenges that arise in your day-to-day life. Therapists in CBT will also help you to establish SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable relevant, and time-based) to make it easier to track your progress.
Although each type of cognitive behavior therapy has an entirely different approach but they all are focused on identifying the mental thoughts that contribute to emotional distress and transforming them. The therapists use different techniques but they all operate on the principles operant and classical conditioning that involves relating stimuli to their effects. During the therapy, the trainer will be rewarded for your accomplishments and will punish those who fail to complete them.
In the first few sessions your therapist will help you identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. They may also assign homework to help you master the skills. You may need anywhere from six to twenty one-on-one sessions, based on the degree and nature of your condition.
CBT is effective in treating a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It is also effective in treating adult ADHD, a condition that is prevalent in children as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy that uses regular, planned meetings with a therapist to talk about your concerns. The sessions can last from 30 minutes to 50 minutes, and they can be conducted face-toface, in groups, or over the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family and relationship issues, as well as work-related issues.
A counselor will pay attention to your issues and provide an objective viewpoint. They will be able to detect patterns of behavior and suggest ways you can modify them. They will be able to teach you strategies for coping and strategies for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can help you deal with major life changes, such as divorce or the loss of a beloved. They can also teach you how to cope with addictions or chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have mental health plans from your doctor.