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With over 1.4 million people in Oregon reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2021, many people might want to know what their options are for treatment . It’s not uncommon to first look into medications as a treatment option. While Adderall is primarily used to help those who have ADHD, many prescription medications have more than one use for them.
Here at Serenity Lane, we understand that education when it comes to mental health and prescriptions is important. We want to help our clients and their families understand all of their options, and how their prescriptions are supposed to work for them so they can receive the best treatment possible.
It’s always good to know what prescription medications can and can’t be helpful in the line of treatment, especially if you are potentially trying to treat more than one thing at a time. Almost 50% of people with diagnosed ADHD also have a GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). Can Adderall help them with both their anxiety and ADHD? Or could it hinder one while bolstering the other?
Adderall is a type of amphetamine and comes in many forms, though it is mainly produced in tablet or capsule form. Some of these are immediate release, while others are extended release and are prescribed accordingly depending on the needs of the individual. It is primarily used to help people manage symptoms of ADHD. It works in helping with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It is used in treatments for children and adults alike.
There is also a form of Adderall that is commonly used to help people who suffer from narcolepsy by providing the wakefulness that they need. It is a central nervous system stimulant and works by altering natural substances already within the brain to achieve the desired results.
In some cases, Adderall has even been used for depression, though that is not one of its intended or “on-label” uses. For those who might be prescribed it helps with depression, it is usually down the line after a list of other options hasn’t worked well for the individual.
There is currently no conclusive evidence that Adderall can help those with anxiety. In fact, some of the side effects of Adderall can potentially make anxiety worse for those who don’t need Adderall to balance their system. For those who have ADHD, Adderall rarely causes anxiety. If you have anxiety and ADHD, Adderall could help lower your anxiety by making your ADHD easier to manage. Still, the medicine itself wouldn’t be directly treating the symptoms of your anxiety.
Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant. It alters chemicals in your brain such as dopamine, epinephrine (commonly known as adrenaline), and norepinephrine. Dopamine helps with feelings of satisfaction and happiness that come with doing something good or important. Epinephrine helps with alertness, focus, and clarity, although it can decrease appetite. Norepinephrine helps maintain the epinephrine to elongate how long you can focus on a task.
It makes sense why Adderall can help with ADHD based on those combinations, but for those who aren’t low on any of those chemicals or don’t have difficulty balancing them, it can instead overstimulate the brain, which can increase anxiety.
Many people wonder if ADHD and anxiety can be confused for each other in the diagnosis process. While there is an overlap of people who are diagnosed with both, they affect the person in distinct ways, so they are rarely mistaken for one another.
ADHD presents as:
Anxiety presents as:
While there is a very minimal overlap in symptoms of concentration being affected, the two are different enough that many times a person won’t be misdiagnosed as one instead of the other.
There are many medications that can help for anxiety that work very well in combination with behavioral therapy. This is how you can get the most use out of your medication and your treatment as a whole.
One of the most common types of medication used to help with anxiety is benzodiazepines. These are primarily used to offer immediate relief for those struggling with a high anxiety situation or a panic attack. Benzodiazepines, even when used as prescribed, have a high chance of withdrawal which can lead to dependence. Many times, these are short-term solutions instead of long-term ones.
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are another common option for anxiety. They’re also used to help those with depression.
If you’re wanting to know what type of medication might work best to help you with your anxiety, it’s important to keep in mind what other conditions you might be wanting to also address, and also what other prescription medications you are currently taking. Many prescriptions can interact with each other in ways that can be counterproductive. Sometimes they can cancel out the effects of one medication or even potentially worsen the symptoms that you’re already trying to manage.
When seeking help for an anxiety disorder, make sure to let your doctor know what concerns you want to address and what other substances you’re currently taking. This can help ensure that you receive the right medication to best help you in your unique situation.
Here at Serenity Lane, we want to see our clients and community thrive. This is why we offer a variety of services to help our clients reach their recovery goals, whether from substance use disorders or from mental illnesses.
At Serenity Lane we do not treat anxiety as a stand alone diagnosis. We are licensed as a substance use disorder treatment center in Oregon. However if someone comes to our program, we can assist them in managing their co-occurring mental health diagnoses, such as anxiety, depression, or other common types of mental health issues that occur in individuals living with substance use disorders.
Anxiety is usually very treatable on an outpatient basis with a therapist or your primary care doctor. It is rare that anxiety escalates to a level where a long term treatment program is necessary. However, always consult with your doctor or therapist and follow their recommendations.
If you have questions about Adderall addiction treatments, are looking to get started yourself, or want to know anything else about the services we offer, just give us a call today at 800-543-9905.
Should you be taking Adderall when having an anxiety attack?
You should not take Adderall to help with an anxiety attack. While some Adderall is fast-acting, its intention is not to calm someone down, which is what’s needed during an anxiety attack. The fast-acting medication often used for a panic attack would be benzodiazepines.
What medication is best for anxiety?
The most common anxiety medications are benzodiazepines and SSRIs.
Can ADHD be mistaken for Anxiety?
While there is an overlap between people who have ADHD and people who have anxiety, they have enough primary differences in how they impact the person that they’re not usually mistaken for each other. ADHD impacts focus, time management, and drive, while anxiety tends to impact stress levels and the ability to feel comfortable in day-to-day situations.
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