How Sleep Medication Can Help People With ADHD
Sleeping is a challenge for many people with ADHD due to racing thoughts and a surge of energy at night. When they do fall asleep it's often a struggle to sleep and not reviving.
Many people are unaware that the same stimulant medication that they take to treat their ADHD symptoms can also help them sleep at night.
The effects of medication
Insomnia and restless sleep are common among adults with ADHD. Certain stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can cause sleep problems for certain people. The medical community suggests that patients discuss their concerns with their physician prior to attempting any new sleep medication. For most the time, the best option is to adhere to good sleep hygiene practices and choose the appropriate medication for their needs.
Insomnia isn't listed as a typical side effect in most scientific literature about the effects of ADHD medication on sleep. However it is commonplace that people with ADHD are unable to fall asleep or staying awake all night. In reality, many people who suffer from ADHD have trouble sleeping even if they're not taking stimulant medications. About two-thirds (or more) of my patients who have trouble sleeping do so by taking their ADHD medication prior to bedtime.
The most commonly prescribed medication for ADHD is methylphenidate, which is also called ADD or MPH. Oral MPH has been demonstrated to decrease the time required for people to fall asleep, and also increase the length of their sleep (Radcliffe and co., 2008). The efficacy of oral MPH to promote sleep is greater than that of the transdermal distribution system, or OROS formulation.
Certain people who suffer from ADHD struggle to fall asleep due to the tingling sensations that are associated with restless leg syndrome, also known as RLS. RLS can make it hard for some people to fall asleep and can lead to an unsatisfactory quality of sleep.
MPH can reduce the frequency of insomnia in children with ADHD. It does this by reducing the time spent awake, increasing slow wave sleep and reducing rapid eye movement sleep. It has also been shown to decrease sleep disturbances due to comorbid disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea or oppositional defiant disorder. anxiety in some children with ADHD and RLS (Gruber and Sadeh 2004; Breslau et al. 2008; Hvolby et al. (2008)).
Clonidine is a central nerve system depressant that is often prescribed to treat high blood pressure, can be used to help those suffering from ADHD to fall asleep, causing sedation that lasts up to four hours. Some practitioners also recommend antidepressant drugs like trazodone (Desyrel) or mirtazapine (Remeron), both of which have moderate effects on sedation.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy can improve sleep for people suffering from ADHD. This kind of therapy focuses on teaching children and teens new skills that can lead to better sleep habits. Behavioral therapy for ADHD is often paired with parent training and classroom intervention. This type of therapy helps youngsters and teens to promote positive behavior, instead of punishing them. It also teaches young people how to relax and take on a more active part in their own sleep routine.
Numerous studies have shown that children suffering from ADHD are more likely to suffer from problems with sleep. These problems are often caused by daytime issues. Many of these children have chronically poor sleep, which contributes to a buildup of a "sleep debt," resulting in a difficulty in waking the next day and a lack of concentration throughout the day. Insufficient sleep can lead to Narcolepsy. This sleep disorder is correlated with lower concentration and vigilance as well as academic performance.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are also susceptible to having difficulty falling and sleeping, which can affect their daytime performance. In addition, the majority of adults say they feel more restless and unable to close their minds and bodies to sleep than people with ADHD do. In many cases, their anxious minds cause them to awake in the middle of the night.
The relationship between ADHD and sleep disorders, is a complicated. Both disorders influence each the other in different ways. In many research studies, ADHD is reported as a risk factor for sleep issues. In some instances, these two disorders can overlap and be akin to each other (Cortese, et al. 2006a). Additionally sleep disorders, like apnea and limb movements that occur periodically in sleep (PLMS) are often associated with the hyperactivity of ADHD.
While a variety of studies suggest ADHD medication can interfere with sleep in certain people, other reports contradict this finding. The effects of medications on sleep are affected by a variety of factors, including the age of the patient when they begin treatment and the length of time exposure to the medication.
Supplements
People with ADHD typically suffer from a variety of sleep problems, including insomnia and trouble falling asleep. This makes it difficult to achieve a restful sleep, which impacts their ability to focus throughout the day. Sleep issues can impact work and school performance. Some people with ADHD also have sleep issues such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. These disorders can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.
Exercise and diet can be beneficial, especially when it is about increasing your protein intake, since it promotes restful sleep. A peaceful routine before bed is also beneficial. It is essential to avoid caffeine which is a stimulant and can cause headaches as well as trouble sleeping.
Melatonin may help with sleep problems caused by methylphenidate. This is a common stimulant used to treat ADHD, both in children and adults. types of adhd medication has been found to help with drowsiness, and sleep issues in those who are taking methylphenidate. However types of adhd medication doesn't seem to diminish the symptoms of ADHD. Melatonin has also shown promise in helping to improve sleeping in people who do not take methylphenidate.
In certain studies, omega-3 fat acids were proven to reduce ADHD symptoms. However there is more research to be done. Fish, walnuts, and salmon are all good sources of omega-3s. Vitamin C is also used by some individuals suffering from ADHD, but not less than a half hour prior to or following the taking of ADHD medication. It stops the medication from being absorbed into the bloodstream.
There is limited evidence that suggests that other supplements to diet, like zinc and iron, could reduce ADHD symptoms. However an extract that is standardized from pine bark known as Pycnogenol has been found to reduce ADHD symptoms in certain individuals, however more research is needed.
visit here , a kind of psychological treatment that teaches adolescents, children and adults on ADHD and its effects, can help people suffering from ADHD feel more confident and manage their symptoms. Psychoeducation may also involve the treatment of behavioural issues, which helps people control their social behavior. The treatments can be performed either in a group or on their own. Psychoeducation may include family therapy and support groups to help families cope with the stress that comes from ADHD.
Other Options
Many people with ADHD are most productive when they are asleep, especially if the house is quiet. However racing thoughts and issues getting to sleep can make it difficult to get a restful night's sleep. Poor sleep can also affect memory function making it difficult to focus.
Researchers have found that stimulants can improve sleep for adults as well as children with ADHD. However they can also trigger adverse effects and misuse. Therefore many doctors prefer non-stimulants, specifically long-acting ones such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine (Adderall). Both methylphenidate as well as dextroamphetamine operate by increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain. However, they do so through different mechanisms. Nonstimulants take longer to work and have less side-effects.
Some experts also suggest supplementing with melatonin or light therapy to aid in insomnia in people suffering from ADHD. Melatonin, a hormone produced naturally by the body, helps regulate the circadian rhythm. It also helps promote sleep. It can be especially beneficial for those with delayed-sleep phase syndrome, which is a sleep disorder characterized by the presence of a delay of at most two hours between the time you normally go to bed and the time you go to sleep.
Light therapy is a non-pharmacological approach to sleep disorders that involves exposure to bright light during the day to synchronize the body's internal clock and encourage a more peaceful sleep at night. It is not widely available and doctors do not recommend it, however it has been shown to be beneficial to those suffering from ADHD.
Other treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is a kind of talk therapy which can teach a child or you how to alter certain patterns of thought and behavior. These patterns can be altered to help improve problems with focus, self-control and working memory.
It's important that you speak with your doctor about the best treatment plan is for you or your children. A customized treatment plan is the most efficient. Each situation is different. Good sleep hygiene practices and medications can help with ADHD and sleep disorders, but you'll need to discuss the specifics of your case.