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Treatment of ADHD in Adults

Treatment of adhd in adults focuses on medication, therapy and support from family members. Clinical trials are available to test new treatments for ADHD.

Stimulant medications are the most effective drugs for adults suffering from ADHD. However, they must be constantly monitored. This includes monthly clinical appointments and frequent reviews of symptoms.

Medicines

Many medications can be used to treat symptoms of ADHD in adults. These are referred to as psychostimulants. They work by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) in your brain that transmit messages between nerve cell. Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you and determine the most appropriate dosage and time to take it. It could take a while to determine the appropriate dosage and medication that control your symptoms.

The first medication doctors prescribe to adults suffering from ADHD is stimulants. These medications increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine that are present in your brain, which increase your ability to concentrate and control impulses. These medications are available in short-, mediumand long-acting forms. Short-acting stimulants last for about 6 hours, intermediate-acting medications last between 8 and 10 hours, while long-acting medications last for up to 16 hours. Long-acting stimulants are less likely to cause adverse reactions than intermediate or shorter-acting medicines. However, they may cause sleepiness and changes in appetite.

Nonstimulant drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera), are used to treat adult ADHD when stimulants don't perform or cause undesirable adverse effects. These medicines do not affect the levels of norepinephrine or dopamine however they increase the amount of norepinephrine that's available to your brain and increase your ability to concentrate. The capsules are taken one or twice daily.

Some adults with ADHD also have other psychiatric disorders, like anxiety and depression. These conditions are referred to as comorbidities, and they can affect how you respond to ADHD treatment. It's important to treat any comorbid disorders prior to beginning treatment for ADHD. Patients with a history of substance abuse disorder are more likely to misuse psychostimulants. It's best to wait until someone has stopped using drugs before taking them on with stimulants.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a method of therapy that involves discussing and talking about topics that cause distress or anxiety for a person. The therapist provides guidance in accordance with their training, experience, credentials and therapeutic philosophy. Psychotherapy may be short-term (a few weeks or months) dealing with more immediate challenges, or long-term (months or years) where a person is working on more complicated and longstanding issues. The patient and therapist decide on the length and frequency of treatment.

The combination of psychotherapy and medication is an extremely effective way to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Behavioral therapy can help people improve their time management, organizational skills, and prioritizing. It can also teach strategies to manage emotions like anger and frustration. The use of medication can help reduce symptoms, increase concentration and improve academic and work performance.

Adults who suffer from ADHD are more likely to suffer from co-existing issues, especially mood disorders like anxiety and depression. It is essential that any co-existing conditions be treated before beginning treatment for ADHD. Treatment of co-existing disorders could require different types and dosages of medication than that used to treat ADHD.

A person suffering from ADHD can also have hypertension. Choosing a medication that treats the ADHD symptoms but doesn't alter the patient's hypertension that is controlled requires knowledge of how different medications affect people over time and an understanding of the interactions between medications.

It is important to choose the right therapy provider with whom you have a good relations, and who has experience treating adults with ADHD. It is important to schedule your initial sessions at a time that you won't be distracted by work or family obligations.

Counseling

Adults suffering from ADHD face a variety of challenges in their lives, such as problems at work and in relationships. They also may experience frustration, blame and anger that have developed in their lives because of their symptoms. Several psychosocial treatments have been proven effective in helping them and their families learn new attitudes, skills and ways of connecting.

Psychotherapy can include cognitive behavior therapy, a form of psychotherapy that assists individuals modify their thinking and behavior. It involves goal-setting, skill training and practice, and methods to help increase self-esteem and organizational skills. It can be carried out in group or individual sessions. Metacognitive therapy has proven to significantly reduce symptoms among adults suffering from ADHD and improve their functioning (Stevenson et al., 2002).

Some people with ADHD might also require counseling to help them overcome certain issues in their lives. These could include family conflict, impulsive and aggressive behavior, or difficulties coping with disappointments and failures. Counseling can help develop techniques to deal with these situations and increase communication and problem-solving abilities. It can also help improve interpersonal relationships, especially in marriages and other long-term partnerships.

Family therapy and supportive groups therapy are two other types of psychotherapy that can be used to treat ADHD. These therapies can assist families in coping and develop skills to lessen conflict and improve communication when dealing with a child who has ADHD. It can also assist parents to recognize the symptoms and develop parenting styles that promote positive outcomes for their children.

It is crucial for adults with ADHD to discuss their medications with their health care professionals regularly, and to disclose all other medications they are taking, including prescription drugs. Certain medications can interact with certain medications or trigger side effects that are worsened by other medications.

Medication Monitoring

After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis is established, it is crucial to monitor the patient to ensure that they are receiving the benefits of the medication and is not experiencing adverse effects. It is recommended to see the patient for the initial clinical monitoring within 30days of starting treatment adhd, and then every month after that. In the case of psychostimulants (methylphenidate amphetamines, methylphenidate) this enables thorough titration to an effective and well-tolerated dose. This permits accurate recording of the patient's response. It also helps to avoid keeping sensitive patients on doses that are not sufficient (slow metabolism) or forcing those who require higher doses on excessively high levels (rapid metabolizers).

Adults who aren't responding well to stimulant medications or suffer from unwanted side effects that are difficult to tolerate could benefit from non medication treatment for adhd-stimulant medications. This is usually the case with atomoxetine, or other methylphenidate-related alternatives.

Adults with ADHD are often affected by comorbid conditions, like depression or substance abuse. Moreover, they may have chronic sleep disorders or medical issues like vision and hearing disorders. It is crucial to identify and evaluate such conditions in the initial evaluation for ADHD since these can have significant impact on functional impairment in adults.

Marital therapy can also be beneficial in the management of ADHD. spouses feel overwhelmed by the caretaking responsibilities of their spouses with ADHD and can become angry or resentful due to this. Reduced resentment can be achieved by enhancing the understanding of the condition, and helping them understand that the symptoms are not the result of an absence of affection or willfulness. Couples who go through this kind of therapy tend to have better functioning families.

Behavioral Therapy

Psychotherapy for adults with ADHD is usually suggested. It should include a cognitive and behavioral component. Behavioral therapy helps patients learn to improve their ability to organize their lives and focus, as well as control the impulsive behavior. It teaches patients to manage their home, work and social settings in more productive ways. Psychotherapy assists patients in understanding how their condition impacts different aspects of their lives and relationships. This can reduce the stigma and feelings of shame that are commonly seen in people suffering from ADHD. They could be perceived by others as lazy or unintelligent.

Many psychiatric disorders may be akin to ADHD symptoms. For example anxiety disorders are found at high rates in adult ADHD patients, and depression is found at increased levels in people suffering from the disorder. If it is necessary the presence of any other psychiatric disorders should be analyzed to determine whether adhd in adults treatment symptoms are a result of them.

A combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is typically recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults. It has been proven that a combination of psychotherapy and medication produces better results than either therapy by itself. Future controlled medication studies will try to measure and assess the effects of functional improvement, like improved functioning in school as well as in the workplace and interpersonal relations.