Living with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

Contributed by: Jennifer Van Velzen, Pharm.D. Candidate

UMKC School of Pharmacy

Text Box: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) used to be only a childhood disease, but in recent years it has become an adult disease as well. In fact, adults with ADD often realize they have ADD when their own child is diagnosed. What is Adult ADD? Strattera.com compiled a list of questions to ask yourself: Do you have difficulty concentrating or focusing your attention on one thing? Do you often start multiple projects at the same time, but rarely finish them? Do you have trouble with organization? Do you procrastinate on projects that take a lot of attention to detail? Do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations? Do you have trouble staying seated during meetings or other activities? Are you restless or fidgety? Do you often lose or misplace things? These symptoms may sound like something that we all experience everyday, but image it 10 times worse. Adult ADD can interfere with your social, home and work life, just like it disrupts a child's concentration in school. The main difference between Adult ADD and Child ADD is that

Text Box: an adult usually has a more sophisticated way to cope with the symptoms. What is the Treatment for Adult ADD? One of the 1st things to do is to make an appointment with your Primary Care Physician to rule out depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or hypothyroidism, because these disease states can mimic the symptoms of ADD. To do this the physician usually prescribes antidepressants to see if they help with any of your symptoms. It is also common for ADD and depression to come in a package together. Your physician may also recommend diet, exercise and lifestyle modifications before turning to medications. The 2nd thing in treatment is that your physician may prescribe stimulant medications, if the antidepressants did not work. The 3rd thing is to try a combo of lifestyle modification with medications. Treatment is individualized to the patient and their symptoms. There are 3 steps involved in the treatment process between you and your physician also, available on Strattera.com. Baseline evaluation: the physician determines the target symptoms and the baseline of impairment Treatment strategy: The physician prioritizing the target symptoms and determining which treatment methods are best suited for the patient

Text Box: Symptom monitoring and strategy adjustment: the physician will assess the patients problem areas (such as learning, academics, family interactions, and peer relationships) and settings (such as home, workplace, social context) The main take home point from this article is that you can live a normal life with Adult ADD once you find a treatment plan that fits you and your lifestyle. Keeping a diary of your symptoms and have a close family member also keep a diary; will help you and your physician with your treatment plan. The process of balance of symptoms and lifestyle could sometimes take a while so don't give up. There are several people living with this disease and so can you. The key is management. For additional information talk with your physician or pharmacist or visit one of the following websites: www.strattera.com www.add.org www.adult-adhd.com www.livingwithadd.com

Text Box: 13600 S. Blackbob Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 782-2039 2774 W 53rd St Fairway, KS 66205 913-236-4983 6900 W. 135th Street Overland Park, KS 66223 (913) 814 WELL (9355)

Text Box: 8120 Parallel Parkway Kansas City, KS 66109 (913) 334-1660 6238 N. Chatham Road Kansas City, MO 64151 (816) 746-1475 1015 N.E. Rice Road Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 (816) 525-1479

Text Box: Sprint Campus 6450 Sprint Parkway Overland Park, KS 66251 (913) 315-8646 Merriam Town Center 5800 Antioch Rd. Merriam, KS 66202 (913) 831-4140