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How to Choose the Best ADHD Medication for Adults With Anxiety and Depression When a person has both ADHD and depression or anxiety, treating one condition often improves the other. Mental health professionals prescribe antidepressants, stimulants for depression or antidepressants, along with ADHD medication. Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) are the most commonly used antidepressants that are prescribed “off-label” for ADHD. These drugs increase the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine as well as norepinephrine, and improve concentration. 1. Methylphenidate Methylphenidate is the first choice medication for adults with ADHD or anxiety depression. It's a part of a group of medications called central nervous system stimulants and is used to alter the levels of certain natural substances in your brain. It is available in the form of tablets that can be chewed, liquid or extended-release capsule. It can also be administered via the skin. It is not uncommon for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression. You should tell your doctor about any depression or anxiety you may be suffering from. Certain medications, especially stimulants can make these disorders worse. In some cases you may have to take both an anti-anxiety medication and a stimulant medication. Methylphenidate can cause headaches as well as stomachaches. It can also increase your heart rate and blood pressure and you should make regular appointments with your doctor to check these. It can also cause facial ticks (uncontrollable, rapid movements of the face). It is not recommended by those suffering from an inherited condition known as phenylketonuria, who have trouble processing the chemical phenylalanine. It is also risky to take during pregnancy or nursing. You should tell your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant. When you are taking methylphenidate, it is recommended that you should not drive a vehicle or operate machinery. It may cause dizziness, blurred vision and sleepiness. You should drink plenty of fluids when taking this medication. If you are having difficulty taking tablets, ask your physician about extended-release capsules or oral disintegrating tablets. Do not crush or chew these medicines. If you are having difficulty eating solid food, ask your doctor about liquid medications that can be mixed into soft foods or drinks such as applesauce, pudding, or yogurt. 2. Lisdexamfetamine Lisdexamfetamine (LDX) is an anthelminthic medication that belongs to the class of central nervous system stimulants. It works by changing the levels of certain natural substances in the brain. It is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults 6 years of age and over. It can also be used to treat binge-eating disorder in adults. Adults suffering from ADHD are often affected by depression and anxiety disorders. Treatment for these disorders is crucial to help people feel more relaxed and perform their best at work and at home. Certain drugs used to treat mental conditions can interact negatively with ADHD medication. It is important to be open about any other medical issues. Depression and anxiety can be a tangled mess because they both have a wide range of symptoms. Antidepressants like Wellbutrin, Effexor, or Venlafaxine are commonly prescribed to treat these conditions. They can also improve concentration and focus in people who suffer from ADHD or ADHD. They typically improve the quantity of neurotransmitters within the brain. They have a low risk of misuse and abuse. The medication showed promising results in studies involving adults with ADHD or depression, anxiety or ADHD. It improved ADHD ratings and executive function and ADHD ratings. It was also safe to use. It is crucial to inform your doctor if taking any other medication that include MAO inhibitors like isocarboxazid (Marplan) or linezolid (Zyvox), Methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil) selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). These medications should not be consumed for 14 days following the use of lisdexamfetamine. It is also important to let your doctor know if you are allergic to lisdexamfetamine, or any other ingredient in the medication. 3. Atomoxetine Atomoxetine, also referred to as Strattera, is a nonstimulant ADHD drug that is used to treat depression. It is believed to work by blocking the reuptake process of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. By boosting levels of this chemical in the brain, the drug increases alertness and reduces anxiety and depression symptoms. This medication is not recommended to be used as a sole treatment for anxiety disorders. Instead, it is recommended that a person seek treatment from a licensed psychiatrist or therapist. There have been a myriad of studies that have been conducted to examine the effects of atomoxetine on patients suffering from ADHD and anxiety disorders. These studies include 9 controlled trials that were randomized and 2 post hoc subgroup analysis. In the majority of instances, both improvement in symptoms and cognition function were better assessed using atomoxetine compared to placebo. It is important to remember that the sample size of these studies was very small. The medication can cause some adverse effects, such as abdominal pain as well as a high heart rate. These effects are typically minor and are not seen in all people who take the medication. Certain people who take Atomoxetine have had thoughts of suicide. These thoughts were observed in short-term clinical trials involving adolescents and children who took the drug. However, suicides did not occur in these trials. Like stimulants, atomoxetine is also effective in treating comorbid anxiety/ADHD. In my response of a recent study of adults with ADHD and social anxiety disorder, atomoxetine outperformed a placebo. This is a promising outcome that suggests that this drug may be effective in treating ADHD and anxiety when paired with other treatments. Further research is needed to determine whether Atomoxetine is also a treatment effectively for other types of anxiety disorders comorbid with each other. 4. Bupropion Bupropion is a nonstimulant medication that boosts a chemical in the brain known as noradrenaline. This chemical is responsible for sending messages between brain cells. Increasing it can help with concentration and impulse control. Your doctor might recommend this drug in capsule form which is usually taken one or twice a day. It's also linked to some more serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts and liver damage. Anxiety is a disorder that causes persistent, intense fear and anxiety. It may cause symptoms like stomachaches, headaches breathlessness, and feelings of dread or panic. Many people suffering from anxiety disorders struggle to manage their symptoms, despite trying to reduce the severity of their symptoms. People with ADHD can sometimes suffer from anxiety, too. The condition can cause emotional and relationship problems and low self-esteem. If not treated, ADHD symptoms, like inattention and impulsiveness, could result in feelings of anger and feeling of failure. Stimulants like methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine can help ease anxiety symptoms, as can nonstimulant drugs such as Atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree). High blood pressure medications such as clonidine, (Kapvay), and guanfacine, (Intuniv or Tenex) can also be used to treat ADHD in adults. However, these medications differ from stimulants. Although antidepressants aren't endorsed by the FDA to treat ADHD, your doctor may prescribe them as a single drug or with a stimulant, though they're not typically prescribed for teenagers and children. Psychotherapy is another treatment option. This involves talking with an expert in mental health, and is sometimes effective for treating anxiety and ADHD together. Changing your routine and lifestyle can help manage these disorders. For instance, you could try meditation or yoga, regulating sleep and stress levels and incorporating exercises into your daily routine. 5. Tricyclic antidepressants In some cases the mental health professional might recommend antidepressants as a part of your treatment program. They are not FDA approved to treat ADHD but can improve depression and anxiety symptoms if taken with stimulants. Antidepressants boost levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine in your brain, and therefore can help improve depressive symptoms as well as anxiety. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors -like fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro) — increase your levels of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, to improve your mood and reduce your anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors — such as mirtazapine (Remeron) and nefazodone (Serzone) — also lift your mood by increasing the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin that your brain's chemical messengers release. Tricyclic antidepressants are named for the three rings in their chemical structure, were initially created as antipsychotics but were later discovered to possess powerful antidepressant properties. These include amitriptyline imipramine and nortriptyline. Tricyclics can also help sleep, reduce blood pressure, and decrease the sensitivity of a person to sound. Tricyclics can cause sleepiness. The people taking them should not operate machinery or drive until they know the reaction they will experience to the medication. Numerous lifestyle changes can improve your ADHD and anxiety symptoms, such as exercise, getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Mindfulness practices and other forms of therapy like cognitive behavior therapy can help reduce stress and boost happiness. Klarity can assist you in finding licensed providers who offer convenient online mental health care that is insurance-free and convenient. Learn more about our services and make an appointment today.