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Dhadhu

Updated 11mo ago

ADHD and Anxiety: Can You Take Medication for Both?

Does anyone have ADHD and also anxiety as two separate disorders? Do you take medication for both? My doctor told me adhd meds will cancel out anxiety meds and so she won't prescribe them? I don't know if that's how it works or what?

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Lightning98

2y

I was explained the same thing when diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety. I only take meds for my ADHD.
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HarbingerOfChaos

2y

I take a SSRI for anxiety and a stimulant medication for ADHD. I've never been told that they would cancel out, but I guess it might depend on what kind of medication you take for them
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Dhadhu

2y

Ohh i have clonazepam for anxiety and nothing for adhd but they both are really bad. I don't know if anxiety is due to adhd or not either. I guess I'll ask my doctor more when I see her today.
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ajar

2y

Most ADHD medications are stimulants, and stimulants make anxiety worse. I don't take anything for ADHD but I take a few things for anxiety, unless there's medicines that work together for those I think you just have to treat the one that's a bigger issue
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Dhadhu

2y

Yeah I guess that makes sense. But for example caffeine is a stimulant and it makes me sleepy actually. I don't know if the two are comparable though.
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ajar

2y

Thats your ADHD, it's counterintuitive but stimulants help people with ADHD calm down
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Dhadhu

2y

Oh okay....weird but okay. I see my doctor today so I'll talk more about it and talk about my symptoms more and see what I should do...
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LJOJ3

2y

I take Wellbutrin and Lexapro. They supposedly help with both. I still have issues with focusing and memory, but my impulsiveness has calmed down, i still drink coffee though to calm down too 😂 and i have things i fidget with which help my ADHD with focusing during conversations and movies and helps my anxiety if I'm being triggered by something like hospitals. I hate hospitals.
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Smash

2y

I’m on Wellbutrin and Zoloft for anxiety and adderall for my ADD. I’ve never had an issue taking them together!
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Sheaa

2y

Yes I’m taking separate medications to treat both conditions. I can’t take ssris so I take less common medication but it’s helped considerably
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DaltonSandcat

2y

I only take generic concerta for my adhd, but i feel like it helps ease my anxiety too
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Dhadhu

2y

Hmmmm interesting. I saw my doctor and she practically refused to treat the adhd saying it's not that bad when I literally cannot get through the day at all. So I'm going to look for another doctor. And maybe my anxiety maybe related to my adhd. I'll have to talk to a new doctor and do some trial runs on meds and see what works I suppose. I really would not have so many meds though.
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Cindy33

2y

I have those two disorders and I take madications for my anxiety. I take stimulants occasionally but I don't feel they make me more anxious. I guess there are different forms of ADHD, more and less reactive to different treatments. Consult with your doctor about adjusting your therapy by trial and error.
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magicalsunflower

2y

Yes. I’m prescribed Ritalin for focus/functioning as a human being, and clonidine for anxiety. I wouldn’t say they cancel out though
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Dhadhu

2y

Ah see my doctor basically said no. I have to choose one or the other.
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magicalsunflower

2y

@dhadhu I would find a new psychiatrist
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Dhadhu

2y

@magicalsunflower yeah I'm already looking for one.
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AshleyMcKinnie

2y

I have anxiety, adhd an depression
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Dhadhu

2y

@AshelyMckinnie same here
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AmyV

2y

Yepp! I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder as well as ADHD. My psychiatrist gave me something called Gabapentin and it's helped me lower my anxiety level in general for the most part, ill still probably need a hire dose when I see him next month.
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Dhadhu

2y

@amyv ohh I see. How do you manage adhd then?
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Tom1991

2y

It's a good question. In my experience, some ADHD drugs make me anxious, but I think this reaction is personal and requires experimenting with different drugs. Try some and keep us posted!
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hungrybunny

2y

I have both and am on medications for both as well as two antidepressants. ADHD meds can worsen anxiety and my doctor was a little hesitant for that reason but it’s worth at least experimenting and trying different medications with your doctor! Untreated ADHD can actually worsen anxiety. However, I only take my anxiety medicine for bad panic attacks as needed. I think if you take it everyday it may be different
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im_himbo

2y

I’ve had that experience as well! My doctors don’t seem to want to treat my ADHD since diagnosing me purely due to my other diagnoses;; I think in part because a lot of adhd meds are narcotics drs are hesitant about prescribing them to people w multiple diagnoses
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Dhadhu

2y

@im_himbo exactly my issue!! But with all my other diagnoses nothing has changed except anxiety meds. I'm taking a anti psychotic and mood stabilizer and it does nothing!! When I mention it my doctor completely ignores me. So when adhd symptoms fit me so well I researched and showed my symptoms and findings with the doctor. She did not like that one bit. I'm also a nurse so automatically I used medical terms. I don't want meds but if it makes me feel better and more functional then I could care less.
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Crow

2y

Meds for adhd help you focus and meds for anxiety help you calm down.. i can see why they mightve said that, but i feel there should be no problem? From what i see theres no drug interactions either.. i might need to ask my doc about this too
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Ninothesloth

2y

I had a bad reaction to adderall immediate release and my heart rate went up to 160 bpm and I was calm the whole time. Therapy helped with my anxiety a lot though when I was off meds for a time.

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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