Adults and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Diagnosis and Treatment

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is sometimes called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), usually manifests in childhood as restlessness but it is a lifelong disorder, so adults can suffer from it too. In adulthood ADHD can cause a sufferer to miss appointments, fail to deliver work on time, procrastinate, jump from one task to the next without finishing, and lose focus in conversations.

In some individuals it can also cause hyperfocus, which is a tendency to pay sharp attention to only one thing, usually something that they find interesting or stimulating, and forget or ignore everything else.

In other words, ADHD is a big deal and it can cause big problems. Thankfully it’s treatable, and Anderson Wellness Group can help.

Behavioral therapy is typically only effective among younger children; once people with ADHD are grown they tend to respond less to talk therapy and it becomes harder to change habits. Therefore the primary form of treatment for adults with ADHD is medication. The correct medication can help bring a person’s focus into line and help them complete tasks. Suddenly, individuals can have good time management, pay attention in meetings, fidget less, and not waste time on distractions. For those with ADHD, medications can be a miracle.

Unlike antidepressants, which can take weeks before they’re fully effective, most drugs used to treat ADHD kick in right away, within an hour. The downside is that the benefits of the drugs only last as long as the medication is in the body, usually just a few hours. Many of the major ADHD medications have an instant release formulation that can last 4-6 hours, and an extended release variant that can last as long as 12 hours.

Some of the more common medications used to treat ADHD are:

• Amphetamine (Adderal)
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• Atomoxetine (Strattera)
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin, sometimes effective for ADHD patients who also struggle with depression)

Anderson Wellness Group can accurately diagnose ADHD in adults, and if an ADHD diagnosis is appropriate, we will determine which medication may be appropriate for each individual. For those already diagnosed with ADHD, we can manage medications and write prescriptions as needed to continue treatment. (We also treat kids and teens with ADHD as well, not just adults.)

If you or your child are struggling with the symptoms of ADHD, or have already been diagnosed with ADHD and need a medication manager, contact us to make an appointment. We’re here to help.