ADHD Treatments For Adults
Most doctors recommend stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate. They help balance the levels of two chemical messengers in the brain. Atomoxetine (Strattera) and antidepressants also may help reduce symptoms, but they do so slower.
Psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy, helps adults to improve their planning and organizational abilities. Psychotherapy and coaching can also help improve social functioning.
Medications
If you suffer from ADHD you may benefit from medication to treat the symptoms. Some people may be able to improve their condition by altering their diet or taking supplements, but they should only be taken under a doctor's guidance. Other options include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as counseling for families. Some adults with ADHD struggle to adhere to their medication. They should talk to their doctor and ask for assistance. Some medications are available over-the-counter and others require the prescription of a doctor.
The majority of medications prescribed for ADHD are effective in increasing the levels of dopamine within your brain, which decreases impulsivity and improves concentration. The most popular medications are stimulants like dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate. While they are considered to be the most effective treatment for ADHD, they also have side negative effects. Some of these side effects can be serious, such as cardiovascular problems. The stimulant medication can also trigger the appearance of tics, like eye blinking and throat clearing. These medications can also slow growth in adolescents and children by a few months.
Nonstimulant medicines are prescribed to those who experience intolerable side-effects from stimulants, or those at risk of heart disease. These are typically dopamine reuptake inhibitors or alpha-2-adrenergic antagonists. 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 medication.
You can try to reduce your ADHD symptoms without medication by following a planned schedule, making and sticking to a budget, improving the organization skills, learning more about your condition, and developing strategies for dealing with your symptoms. Talk to a professional about the best ways to manage your ADHD. You will also find numerous helpful resources on the website of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Association.
Your relationships could be strained due to your ADHD symptoms. Talking with a therapist about how you interact with your spouse or co-workers 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 actions are not intended to be mean-spirited.
Therapy
ADHD as an adult can have significant emotional, social, and occupational repercussions. These include lower academic achievements as well as higher rates of transfer and job failure, as well as poor work performance. Additionally, there are more car accidents, and higher divorce rates than the general population. Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or substance abuse. Patients with multiple conditions may have a harder time responding to stimulant medication (Barkley and Gordon, 2002).
A detailed patient history is crucial, as a variety of medical conditions can have symptoms similar to symptoms of ADHD. Patients with developmental disorders, seizure disorders, sleep apnea thyroid disorders and lead poisoning should be careful to be evaluated. The use of stimulants is not recommended for patients with active substance abuse or with certain medical conditions, including heart disease or high blood pressure, tachycardia and arrhythmias (Greenhill 2001).).
Psychosocial therapy is a form of therapy that includes psychoeducation and behavioral therapy for adults with ADHD. adhd treatment in adults involves teaching patients about their condition and its impact on different areas of their lives and relationships. Psychoeducation can also improve self-esteem in patients who often are stigmatized, for example, being judged as being lazy or insufficiently intelligent.
The goal of behavioral therapy for adults with ADHD, is to improve their abilities to manage their time and teach them how to manage their time. This can help reduce the risk of missing appointments or making impulsive choices that can cause problems in the workplace, at school or with their personal lives. This type of therapy could help improve relationships with their spouse, children and colleagues.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults suffering from ADHD is focused on helping individuals modify their behavior patterns that are harmful to them. This kind of therapy can be extremely efficient in improving the performance of those with ADHD particularly when it is coupled with psychoeducation and family therapy. Educating patients and their significant others 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 teach families and couples how to better communicate and manage conflicts can be helpful.
Counseling
A successful treatment plan for ADHD will address the symptoms and their impact on family, work, and school. It will include stimulant and nonstimulant medication as in addition to psychosocial treatment, specifically cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps patients change the way they think about their behavior. It also helps them develop skills to manage their symptoms and improve their relationships with their family and friends.
Stimulant medications are used to treat ADHD. They regulate and increase levels of brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters. There are many different types of stimulant medications, each with their own advantages and side-effects. The two most commonly prescribed stimulants are methylphenidate as well as dextroamphetamine. They are sold under various brand names including Ritalin and Adderall. Other medications that treat ADHD include atomoxetine, which helps by increasing the amount of a chemical in the brain that passes messages between brain cells and viloxazine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Viloxazine as well as atomoxetine can be used to treat ADHD in adults, since they have a slower start than stimulants. They are also available for those who cannot take stimulants due to medical conditions or serious side effects.
It's important to note that comorbid disorders can mimic the symptoms of ADHD So the severity and presence of any other medical condition should be considered when making the ADHD diagnosis. It's important to eliminate physical causes of the symptoms, for example thyroid disorders or hearing and sight problems.
Some patients may also be able reduce their ADHD symptoms through diet changes. It is important to consult a doctor before eliminating any food. This could lead to nutritional deficiencies and should only be done under the supervision of a physician or dietician. Counseling can also help patients manage their symptoms, and also improve their relationships with their families. Counseling can also help spouses realize that the patient's behavior is not necessarily indicative of a lack of love or a deliberate act of misconduct.
Education
Both doctors and patients are susceptible to being misled by the diagnosis of ADHD. It's not uncommon for other mental health disorders to coexist with the disorder. Additionally, certain medications and medical conditions may also produce symptoms that mimic those of ADHD.
Many of these problems can be resolved by treatment or lifestyle modifications. A person with ADHD might benefit from taking supplements or changing their diet to improve their eating habits. Behavioral therapy can teach him to better resist distractions and impulsiveness, improve his focus and develop self-control. A doctor may suggest cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or a mindfulness-based meditation practice that can help control emotions and increase attention.
A thorough medical history and a physical examination are essential. A doctor can also assess the patient for sleep apnea and hearing and vision problems, thyroid disorders as well as lead poisoning, alcohol or drug abuse. In addition to determining the existence of an underlying cause, these evaluations can assist in determining or limit the effects of other disorders that could cause an individual's ADHD-like behavior.
Most commonly, stimulants are prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD. They include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate as well as Concerta and Adderall. Nonstimulant drugs might include clonidine or guanfacine, which are blood pressure medicines which can aid in reducing hyperactivity and impulsivity, however they may take longer to kick in and could cause negative side effects like heartburn, constipation and low sexual drive.
ADHD patients often forget appointments, show up late for work, and make irrational decisions that can strain even the most patient family and friends members. Couples therapy or classes that improve communication skills can help sufferers build solid relationships.
Diet, exercise, and stress reduction can all aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. Certain people suffering from the condition have found that cutting out certain foods or taking supplements aids them, but it's crucial to talk to a doctor before trying these methods. If you do this without consulting with a physician it could result in nutritional deficiency and other health issues.