Treating ADHD in adults is similar in many ways to treating it in children. But, for
adults who've had it their whole lives and never treated it, there may also be some life
challenges that will also need to be addressed. The first thing to know is no one treatment
works for the same for everyone. You'll want to work with your doctor to tailor a
program just for you. Medication therapies help most adults with ADHD, but some will
also benefit from counseling, or behavioral therapy. But the best treatment is a combination
of both medication and counseling. The same drugs used in treating children with ADHD
are effective in treating adults with the disorder. There are two main types of drugs,
the first are stimulants. These are believed to help regulate neurotransmitters in the
brain and help boost attention while lowering impulsivity tendencies. Individuals may respond
to various stimulants and concentrations differently, so you'll have to work with your doctor
closely to be sure the drug and dosage is best for you. These drugs have been studied
for a long time and they usually work well for many people. But for those who have addition
problems, your doctor may turn to non-stimulant drugs to treat your ADHD because they can
be abused. Stimulants may also have side effects which can include:
-Anxiety -high blood pressure
-glaucoma -hyperthyroidism
-heart disease
Because of these possible side effects, your doctor will ask about your heart health and
may run some screening tests before starting you on a stimulant therapy. Another type of
drug used in treating ADHD in adults are NRI's or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. These
are usually prescribed for people who may have concerns about addiction or other side
effects related to stimulants. These have their own side effects including:
-headaches -sleepiness
-irritability
Anti-depressants are also used to help adults with ADHD. Since many adults who have the
disorder also experience depression or anxiety, these drugs can help ease those problems.
Antidepressants may be used in combination with another drug therapy for ADHD. Now, let's
look at counseling. Counseling can involve individual therapy, marriage or family therapy,
and behavioral therapy. Individual, or "talk therapy" helps adults whose ADHD causes
feelings of underachieving, inadequacy, anxiety, or low self-esteem. It can also help you better
understand the disorder and its role in your life. Marriage or family counseling may be
helpful since many adults with ADHD experience problems in relationships. This counseling
can also help a spouse or family members better understand the disorder and heal old wounds.
And behavioral therapy can help you develop strategies for coping with specific symptoms,
build new skills for organization, time-management, and find new methods for interacting with
others. There are also life coaches who can help you
learn ways to manage your time. Remember that no one treatment is going to work for everyone.
And, the best treatment for adults with ADHD is usually a combination of therapy and medication.
The key is taking an active role -- with the help of your doctor - to make those changes
in your own life. Thanks for watching HealthiNation.
