ADHD Rarely Travels Alone

There’s a whole chicken-and-egg argument of which one came first - was it anxiety and depression or ADHD?

It can go a bit like this: 

Unfinished tasks → Shame + Dread → Overwhelm + Avoidance → Depression/Anxiety → Repeat

There’s also the simple fact that stress, anxiety, and depression drain our energy and make us not want to work/do the things that help us feel better… which leads to unfinished tasks and the cycle starting all over again. Same loop, different entry point.  

Either way, it’s clear that ADHD can trigger anxiety and depression, and anxiety and depression can look like ADHD. Each condition can exacerbate the other. Anxiety makes it harder to focus, while the low energy of depression can make planning for your future feel impossible. 

Overall, about 70% of adults with ADHD are struggling with another mental health issue, like anxiety, substance use, or even bipolar or personality disorder. Anxiety and depression, in particular, can appear in about 25-50% of people with ADHD. 

Why Treating ADHD First Can Help

If you have ADHD, and particularly if you’ve gone most of your life undiagnosed, you might have a lot of pent-up frustration, anger, and shame. You’ve probably asked yourself a million times, “Why is everything so much harder for me?” or “How come I can’t get it together?”

Self-esteem is naturally going to plummet when there are all these things you want to do, but can’t seem to follow through. And when you’re comparing yourself to others, you’re sure to feel worse. Work, school, friendships, romantic relationships, it can all feel harder to “succeed.”

Anxiety and depression treatment and tools help, but if ADHD is at the core, you might still feel stuck. You may need specific strategies to manage the symptoms that keep the loop going. That includes ADHD coaching and putting systems in place, and potentially, medication. 

For many, just getting a diagnosis and knowing it’s not some character flaw - that you’re not lazy, and nothing’s wrong with you - can lift a massive weight.

ADHD Medications That Help With Anxiety or Depression

If you’re considering medication, let your clinician know about how anxiety or depression might be affecting you. That includes your general day-to-day mood, thought spirals, motivation levels, appetite, sleep, physical symptoms, etc. 

There’s no single “best” ADHD med for anxiety or depression, but some are better equipped to handle double-duty. But — when it comes to meds, it can take some trial and error to find the right fit. No one can say for certain that one type of med will help, since it also depends on your brain chemistry, sleep, nervous system, dose, trauma history, and much more. 

Here’s the short version of what tends to help, and why:

What to Avoid: Meds That May Worsen Coexisting Conditions

Meds are tricky: you might take a stimulant and get anxiety and insomnia, leaving you to swear them off for good. Except, it could just be the wrong type of stimulant, or short-acting with a high kick off, or a dose that doesn’t work for you. Many ADHD med-related issues have to do with dosing and acting length. 

There are a few meds, though, that some people struggle with when it comes to ADHD. That includes SSRIs (Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac), which can drain your energy, motivation, and attention. It might leave you feeling more emotionally stable, but still feeling stuck, behind, or overwhelmed. 

Benzos (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin) might lower anxiety, but mess with your memory and focus (plus they can be addictive). 

Finally, there’s also the danger of self-medicating and experimenting with dosages and types of meds. You need someone qualified to guide you, who understands your symptoms and the risks involved. 

Combination Treatments: Stimulants + SSRIs or Non-Stimulants

If stimulants help you focus but your anxiety is still screaming in the background, adding an SSRI might help turn the volume down so you can actually use that focus. Or if stimulants make you edgy, swapping in a non-stimulant can get you the ADHD help without the nervous system freak-out.

Here are some of the most common pairs:

• Vyvanse (Stimulant) + Lexapro (SSRI) 
  
  • Vyvanse can help you start and finish tasks while Lexapro works on background anxiety
  • Good when stimulants help, but you still feel tense or overwhelmed

• Concerta (Stimulant) + Wellbutrin (Bupropion)
  
  • Concerta boosts focus while Wellbutrin adds energy and motivation
  • Helpful for ADHD and depression with low energy

• Strattera (Non-stimulant) + Zoloft (SSRI)
  
  • Strateterra helps with attention and emotional regulation, while Zoloft hits chronic worry, intrusive thoughts, and mood crashes
  • Can work for people who can’t tolerate stimulants or have too much anxiety 

Why a Personalized Plan Matters (and How ADHD Advisor Helps)

Two people can have the same diagnoses and need totally different meds. The real issue is how your symptoms interact.

For example:

• Treat ADHD → anxiety spikes
• Treat anxiety → motivation tanks
• Treat depression → still can’t focus

So the question isn’t “What’s the best med?” It’s: What’s the best med for you?

A good plan looks at:

• Trauma, family history 
• Which symptoms hit hardest
• Mood, physical symptoms, full medical history
• How you react to stimulants or other medications

ADHD Advisor looks at the full picture and builds a medication and treatment approach that fits your life. You get regular follow-ups to monitor and adjust, since what life brings and how you feel will change. 

FAQs About ADHD + Anxiety/Depression Medication

Can one medication treat all three?

• It depends. Strattera or Wellbutrin can hit ADHD + mood/anxiety, but they’re not a universal fix. Most people still need a combo. It’s less “one magic pill” and more “find the right mix.”

Will ADHD meds make my anxiety worse?

• It depends. If your anxiety shows up physically (racing heart, chest tension, shaky), certain types of stimulants might not work. But for many, anxiety improves once their brain isn’t constantly overwhelmed.

Should I treat anxiety or ADHD first?

• It depends on which symptoms are the biggest “problem.” If anxiety is extreme (panic attacks, barely functioning), your clinician might prioritize those symptoms. If ADHD issues are causing stress, shame, and overwhelm, working on that first might make sense. Give your clinician your full history so they can make an informed decision as to what might work best for you. 

What if nothing has worked yet?

• It doesn’t mean you’re treatment resistant, but that you might not have yet found the right type of medication and dose. Also, medication isn’t the be-all end-all — support and skills training are still key.