OCD medications do not make ADHD symptoms worse. However, ADHD stimulant medication can sometimes make OCD worse. Patients with ADHD and OCD sometimes find that stimulants make it difficult to focus on anything but their obsessions.
While the medications do not have to interact with one another, there can be significant reactions. Stimulant treatment for ADHD, for example, may exacerbate OCD symptoms. As stimulants increase attention and focus, they may also lead an individual with comorbid OCD to focus more on the obsessive thought.
Some literature suggests that stimulants can exacerbate and provoke OCD symptoms. While this may be consistent with the theoretical understanding of dopaminergic prefrontal hyperactivity, this evidence is mostly anecdotal and remains limited (33–37).
Adderall and other stimulant medications are not a first-line treatment for OCD. In some anecdotal cases, they may worsen OCD symptoms. There is also a higher risk of dependency. However, doctors commonly prescribe them for people who have both OCD and ADHD.
Thirty to 50 percent of individuals with ADHD also have a learning disability, difficulty regulating emotions (anxiety, mood disorder), anger, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and/or a tic disorder. It is essential to identify each problem and treat it appropriately.
Whereas research suggests that one out of five children with OCD has co-occurring ADHD, only one out of every 12 adults with OCD has ADHD. So, what happens to half of the children with OCD who initially diagnosed with ADHD as well; does it disappear in adulthood?
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) as a side effect of methylphenidate have rarely been reported. There are occasional case reports describing these in children and adolescents.
Stimulant meds, like Ritalin, that are prescribed for ADHD aren't effective for OCD. SSRI anti-depressant meds prescribed for OCD aren't usually helpful for ADHD symptoms although they might be prescribed if there is a co-exsisitng condition of depression.
Dexamphetamine may be more suitable for ADHD with associated OCD (4). Recent case reports (5, 6) have implied that dexamphetamine improves OCD symptoms, further suggesting the need for more research into dopaminergic and serotonergic interactions in OCD (7).
The most common class of effective medications are antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They include fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil).
Combined this evidence suggests that OCD may be associated with both increased and decreased dopamine signaling, or that a unidirectional model may not be adequate.
Trauma, stress, and abuse all can be a cause of OCD getting worse. OCD causes intense urges to complete a task or perform a ritual. For those who have the condition, obsessions and compulsions can begin to rule their life.
The type of abnormal activity, though, is quite different: those with OCD exhibit significantly higher levels of activity in this system, while those with ADHD exhibit significantly lower levels of activity in it.
OCD has been mistaken as ADHD by many doctors since both diagnoses share a number of the same symptoms—anxiety, distractibility, perfectionism, impulsive behaviors and impaired executive functioning.
Obsessing and ruminating are often part of living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No matter how hard you try to ignore them, those negative thoughts just keep coming back, replaying themselves in an infinite loop.
We certainly didn't know this at the time, but there is evidence to suggest that stimulants such as Vyvanse can not only exacerbate symptoms of OCD, they can precipitate the disorder as well.
OCD is viewed as neurodiverse in origin because it satisfies the primary criteria of a neurodivergent disorder – people with OCD have a brain that processes and behaves differently from what is considered typical.
Symptoms generally worsen when you experience greater stress. OCD , usually considered a lifelong disorder, can have mild to moderate symptoms or be so severe and time-consuming that it becomes disabling.
Repetitive behaviours are part of being autistic and should not be misunderstood as a sign that you may have OCD. The similarities between autistic traits and OCD symptoms can make it difficult to know which is a result of OCD and which is a part of being autistic.
Preclinical, neuroimaging and neurochemical studies have provided evidence demonstrating that the dopaminergic system is involved in inducing or aggravating the symptoms that are indicative of OCD.
People struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often misdiagnosed as having other psychological conditions. One of the most common misdiagnoses for this population is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This diagnostic problem arises for two reasons.
If you have ADHD, you're more likely to fixate on something enjoyable or rewarding. This happens because ADHD changes how your brain perceives reward and gratification. If you're struggling with an ADHD fixation, remember that this does not make you a “lazy” or “irresponsible” adult.