Neurofeedback vs Medication- Can They Go Together?

First time Neurofeedback clients often ask how medication can interact with Neurofeedback or are they able to be on medication while participating in Neurofeedback training? The simple answer is that clients can be on most medications prescribed by a Psychiatrist while participating in Neurofeedback training. There are classes of medications, such as Benzodiazepines, that create a barrier for the brain to learn, which would defeat the purpose of Neurofeedback potentially. Neurofeedback providers can work with willing Prescribers to wean Clients off of those medications, if possible, while utilizing Neurofeedback to help the Client regulate while managing potential withdrawals. 

Many clients who come to participate in Neurofeedback therapy or have already been in therapy for years, may be on medication that helps with stabilizing their moods, or reducing anxiety, helping with sleep, and/or mitigating depression symptoms etc. When these clients participate in Neurofeedback training, over-time providers may see a reduction in the need for some of the medications or reducing the dosage gets more optimal results. Many of the research studies surrounding Neurofeedback, shows this outcome even with participants with more severe mental health diagnosis' in a controlled setting and collaboration with Prescribing providers. Click on this link to see a more recent studies' results in symptom reduction from Neurofeedback.

Traditional Neurofeedback Providers do an initial assessment when a new Client begins, which takes a "Baseline" reading of their EEG brainwaves, while on their current medications, as it could be detrimental to abruptly stop medications that the Client is on, and may need. One of the multiple ways Neurofeedback Providers track their Client's progress over time is through comparing these intermittent assessments after every interval of about 10 training sessions to see what may have shifted. Providers also utilize Client's real-world functioning information to assess change overt-time, that the numbers may not be showing. 

One of the only medications a Neurofeedback Provider may have a Client abstain from taking before their Baseline EEG mapping could be a Stimulant for ADHD. That way the Provider could get a Baseline reading for the Client without the Stimulant, and next session could do it with the Client having taken the Stimulant, to view the difference in the EEG mappings to assist in creating the treatment plan, along with other assessments.

In summation, Client’s can be on Psychotropic Medications when beginning Neurofeedback training – a possible outcome of consistent and effective Neurofeedback training could be the lessening of the doses of those medications or the ceasing the necessity of use for one or some of the medications all together. Each Client’s outcomes are varied, so just like anything else in life, there are no guarantees. I am a trained Neurofeedback provider in the Montclair, New Jersey area if you’re interested in trying Neurofeedback, feel free to reach out and schedule a consultation. If you are looking for more information related to Neurofeedback or alternate trauma treatment modalities, check out the other pages on my website re: EMDR and DBR.