{"id":37544,"date":"2024-11-19T10:26:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T15:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/?p=37544"},"modified":"2024-11-19T10:30:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T15:30:07","slug":"best-medications-and-treatment-for-people-with-both-adhd-and-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/articles\/best-medications-and-treatment-for-people-with-both-adhd-and-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"ADHD and anxiety medication: An exploration of treatment methods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Untreated ADHD can be a breeding ground for anxiety. It’s a common pairing with frequently overlapping symptoms \u2014 things like difficulty concentrating, sleep irregularities, and constant feelings of restlessness. Days riddled with missed deadlines, misplaced keys, and countless social blunders create an ambient hum of chronic worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edward Hallowell, MD and founder of The Hallowell ADHD Centers, says: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cPretty much everyone with untreated ADHD has anxiety<\/a>, because ADHD leads you to make a lot of mistakes \u2014 you forget or overlook things, misspeak, misplace, fall behind, lose track of time \u2026 It\u2019s an anxiety generator.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Nearly half of us living with ADHD also grapple with the weight of an anxiety disorder. But in a world where every oversight and impulsive decision seems to catalyze symptoms, embracing a diverse approach to treatment can lead you to a place of calm coexistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A prescriptive approach: medication for ADHD and anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stimulants and non-stimulants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stimulants, like Adderall and Ritalin, are often the initial treatment choice for ADHD, with proven effectiveness for about 70% of patients. While some worry that stimulants will exacerbate the anxious mind, many experts argue that addressing ADHD head-on can in fact alleviate anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about putting on a pair of glasses for the first time; suddenly, the world comes into sharper focus \u2014 and with it, a sense of calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of medication that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ADHD: amphetamines, such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine, and Adzenys; and methylphenidate, such as Ritalin, Focalin, and Methylin. Mental health professionals also prescribe modafinil, commonly known as Provigil, which is another stimulant that\u2019s used off-label to treat ADHD symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve got over 70 years of experience with both of these stimulants, yet there is so much misinformation about them.\u201d Dr. Hallowell advocates for the efficacy of these medications when used properly, noting that amphetamines were first used to treat ADHD in 1937 and methylphenidate has been in use since around 1950. \u201cNothing lasts that long unless it\u2019s safe and effective,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For those who find the effects of stimulants too intense or anxiety-provoking, non-stimulant medications offer an alternative path:<\/p>\n\n\n\n