The Two Medications That Are Often Taken Together To Treat ADHD And Anxiety

Some medical conditions can co-occur, such as ADHD and anxiety. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around four out of 10 kids are diagnosed with anxiety as well as ADHD. Adults with ADHD can also experience anxiety: A 2022 study in Psychiatry Research found that more than half of adults had an ADHD-anxiety co-diagnosis. The study noted that having both anxiety and ADHD can lead to debilitating psychological and social symptoms. In fact, individuals with anxiety and ADHD are statistically more likely to have suicidal thoughts, require inpatient treatment, and underperform educationally.

If you're diagnosed with both ADHD and anxiety, your doctor may prescribe a combination of pharmaceutical therapies (in addition to sharing effective ways to manage ADHD that aren't medication). One such drug pairing is alprazolam along with amphetamine salt combo. Together, these drugs help reduce the intensity of the symptoms of both disorders. That said, you may want to gain a deeper understanding of what they can do — and how taking them simultaneously may affect you in unexpected ways — before starting them as part of your personalized treatment course.

Alprazolam falls into a class of drugs called benzodiazepines; you may have heard of the drug under a brand name like Xanax or Niravam. Alprazolam is typically prescribed to lessen the effects of panic disorders and anxiety because it functions as a neurological and physical sedative and relaxant.

As with most pharmaceuticals, alprazolam can cause side effects that vary from mild to serious. These include sleepiness, gastrointestinal issues, headache, vision changes, and depression. Yet alprazolam is considered safe and effective for most people as long as they don't abuse it. In 2020, the FDA started requiring that all benzodiazepines include a warning about the medication's addictive properties.

Amphetamine salt combo (branded name: Adderall) offers stimulation to the nervous system. Essentially, this produces an opposite effect from that of alprazolam. In fact, for those with ADHD, taking this medication can improve their concentration by encouraging wakefulness. The downside to amphetamine salt combo is that it may cause hyper-alertness, which can result in insomnia. Plus, it may also lead to symptoms shared by alprazolam, such as headache and upset stomach. Other surprising side effects of Adderall include spiking blood pressure and kidney problems. On top of that, it's habit-forming as well.

Although alprazolam and amphetamine salt combo are often taken together, you shouldn't mix them without a doctor's order. You should also be aware that some healthcare professionals aren't sold on the benefits of combining the two drugs due to their seemingly at-odds purposes.

Dr. Paul Zarkowski, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Harborview Medical Center at the University of Washington, cited findings of a study suggesting that the drugs could have an "antagonistic" effect on each other (via Psychopharmacology Institute). He also noted that "amphetamine reverses the sedative effects of benzodiazepine but leaves substantial deficits in balance, reaction time, memory and most importantly insight to impairment." Several substance abuse and addiction treatment centers caution that taking the two medications can lead to overdose deaths, drug misuse and abuse, and unwanted cardiovascular outcomes.

This doesn't mean that you can't take alprazolam and amphetamine simultaneously if your doctor deems it possibly helpful based on your medical history. However, you may want to have a thoughtful conversation about their potential interaction-specific side effects. While you're at it, consider talking about what else you take, including vitamins and supplements. (Here are some things you didn't know could affect your medication.)