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Is ADHD drug therapy useful for anxiety?

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4 min read

Is ADHD drug therapy useful for anxiety?

ADHD drug therapy

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental illness whose destructive influence often tends to be underestimated. Nevertheless, a person suffering from ADHD may not be able to have either happy relationships or a career that will bring him undying glory. According to the statistics, up to 80% of adults with ADHD also suffer from additional psychiatric conditions, such as depression, substance use disorder, or personality disorders.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that nearly 50 percent of adults with ADHD also suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and therefore bring together challenges in dealing with hard enough ADHD symptoms. PGx Gene Test help diagnose your gene type and Rph Lab help you with right medication for your disease.
Read on for insightful information on how these two conditions are interconnected and how to treat ADHD while having anxiety.

What Is ADHD?

It is one of the most frequent neurodevelopmental conditions, frequently extending into adulthood. ADHD occurs in several ways: inattention, by itself, called attention deficit disorder or ADD, hyperactivity, combined with impulsive behavior, called hyperactive-impulsive type; or a combination of those two, called combined ADHD. Pharmacogenetic testing of Rph Labs will help you to diagnose your gene type and you can overcome these symptoms at early stage by choosing right medication.
Based on the symptoms and the level of severity, medical professionals design specific management plans for ADHD. They may include particular classes of medications, behavior therapy, and lifestyle changes that represent new good habits.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling that usually occurs as a response to stressful conditions, but sometimes also develops into a disorder with the symptoms of fear, nervousness, anxiety and physical responses in the form of headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, or hypertension. You can diagnose your gene type with the help of pharmacogenetic testing of Rph Labs and can have the right medication for anxiety.
Although the severity and frequency of these symptoms usually vary between subjects, anxiety has a significant impact on a person’s life and requires professional treatment, either in the form of therapy or medication.

How ADHD and Anxiety Are Related?

One must know the prevalence of both ADHD and anxiety and achieve a proper diagnosis before moving on. This can be done at home with pharmacogenetic testing of Rph Labs. But one must learn how to live with them simultaneously as well.
Anxiety and ADHD can occur together, but they are two distinct conditions. It is sometimes difficult to identify the disorder a patient suffers from since their symptoms overlap sometimes. For instance, patients find it difficult to relax, are unable to concentrate on anything, and have problems with inattention. For perfect medication according to your gene type, which can be diagnosed with pharmacogenetic testing of Rph Labs. You can overcome this disease with right medication without wasting time on useless medication that are not according to your gene type.
Living with ADHD can also cause anxiety issues. So, for example, a person who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder might become anxious because of professional or academic failures caused by forgetfulness, which might develop into anxiety disorders over time if these feelings persist.
Some of the drugs used to treat ADHD, especially stimulants, cause side effects in the form of anxiety symptoms or exacerbate anxiety in the patient.

ADHD Medications for Adults with Anxiety Symptoms

Stimulants are often the first choice of treatment for adult ADHD because they work quickly and are extremely effective. Non-stimulants are also very effective but take longer to begin working, prolonging the activity of brain receptors. Both can be safe and useful in adult ADHD, though using stimulants with anxiety sometimes worsens its symptoms; non-stimulants may be the better medication for adults with ADHD who experience anxiety.

Atomoxetine (Strattera)

Strattera is a non-stimulant, immediate-release drug used in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and related anxiety disorder. This medication acts on a critical nerve neurotransmitter called norepinephrine that transmits impulses to nerves.
The dosing varies according to the medical condition and patient response. Nevertheless, it can be alone or with other drugs, and anyone must report all medications that are being taken to a healthcare provider.

Viloxazine (Qelbree)

Viloxazine is also referred to as Qelbree. Qelbree works to add attention, concentration, and impulse control through the rehabilitation of neurotransmitter balance in the brain.
Among adverse symptoms or changes in mental/mood were suicidal thoughts. The safety profiles of this drug in pregnancy and lactation have not been known. Elderly patients were likely to be sensitive to the effects. So, caution has to be practiced and observed, particularly when therapy is started or the dosage is made.

Antidepressants

Other antidepressants can also help with anxiety symptoms. The following are two specific classes:
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), and Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs).
The following medications often help take an edge off of symptoms:

  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
  • Desipramine (Norpramin)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Lifestyle Changes and Non-medication Treatments for ADHD and Anxiety
Some non-medication treatments may benefit symptoms of both ADHD and anxiety, including the following:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT will probably help, even if medication is not involved. But from clinical experience, they seem to have somewhat differential impact. Medication can help the person build concentration for better management of core symptoms such as distractibility, low attention span, and impulsivity, while CBT directly impacts the development of habits and skills needed for executive self-management.
CBT is based on the belief that the cause of many mental illnesses is faulty, unhelpful ways of thinking and learnt behavior. It involves helping the affected individual to distinguish and change these patterns to better understand others and have some skills to resolve problems.

Relaxation Techniques

Whereas relaxation techniques alone cannot manage severe symptoms, they go perfectly well with psychotherapy and medical pharmacological treatments. Though there are numerous ways of relaxing, one needs to find and stick to what suits the best.
Common methods include slow diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness exercises, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and self-care activities.
By incorporating these into your lifestyle, you can reap the following:

  • It reduces mental activity to avoid racing thoughts or teaches them to handle it more tolerably.
  • It increases the body tension perception and learns to deal with it.
  • It decreases the total voltage level and restlessness in the body.

Challenges in Treating ADHD Symptoms with Coexisting Anxiety

Perhaps one of the most common challenges towards people with ADHD and accompanying anxiety is the overstimulation caused by the use of stimulant medications, side effects of medications, and the inability to identify the symptoms that might correlate between the two.

Problems in Identification of Anxiety and ADHD Symptoms

Even though both conditions may lead to a lack of concentration, their basis and modes of diagnosis or treatment differ. So, generally, anxiety disorders normally result from excessive worry and fear, while ADHD is believed to be associated with problems in the brain concerning its executive functions memory and self-control.
Importantly, a point diagnosis by a healthcare professional as regards the specific factors that contribute to the symptoms of ADHD and anxiety would be the first step in establishing what will help make up the specific treatment plan that will concentrate on both conditions.

Conclusion:

Mental illness is complex, more particularly with conditions like anxiety and ADHD. Having such an understanding allows for the requirement of knowing about the differences and similarities between the two. Additionally, PGx testing at Rph Labs may lead to better treatments being discovered that are appropriate for an individual’s needs based on genetic data. Such progress can include enhanced diagnosis, improved efficacies for treatment, and subsequently greater support towards better mental health.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of anxiety or ADHD, speak with your healthcare provider regarding PGx testing to get a more tailored treatment approach. Give your mental health the best care possible.

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