NetWellness Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Paradoxical Side Affects with Adderall XR

L Arnold MD, MEd — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:09:00 EST

Question: I am 72 years old - 6'2", 200lbs (been gaining weight again since not taking Adderall, blood pressure has increased, word loss has returned, concentration is diminished, edema is returning, sleep has returned to poor (very little delta level) tired in the morning, my IQ is 155. My major was re . . .

Answer: The simple answer to this long question is that I do not know of studies focused on those issues in seniors. Some drug companies have shown more interest in the adult ADHD market in recent years, and some of the studies have samples of the full adult age range, but I don't know of studies focused on . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Admitting That you Take ADHD Meds

L Arnold MD, MEd — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:07:00 EST

Question: I was diagnosed with adult ADHD about 30 years ago; since starting medication (ritalin 40mg/day) my symptoms have been eliminated and life has been great. I always concealed my diagnosis fearing that people might react negatively even though I`m a successful professional with a great family et . . .

Answer: This question taps into wider issues: privacy of personal health information, drug interactions, data base for treatment, and stigma of illness. Although mental disorders, including substance use disorders, currently seem to carry the most stigma, it has not always been so. We have come a way since . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

24-Year-Old Son with Attention Problems

L Arnold MD, MEd — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 01:06:00 EST

Question:

My 24 year old son has always had difficulty with tasks that do not provide positive reinforcing/stimulating responses. He has great concentration for things that require creativity, detail, and repetition. He enjoys working with his hands. Raising him was extremely challenging because he can b . . .

Answer: It is not clear whether you are asking a question or just stating a problem, but your sentiments echo those of many parents I have talked with, both of younger children, adolescents, and young adults. The treatments and accommodations that worked well for children are less appropriate for adolescen . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Where to Get Free ADHD Testing for Children

Ghada Lteif MD — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:03:00 EST

Question: I have a friend who believes that her child is suffering from adhd. My friend does not have a job and is not getting any state assistance right now. And when she took her daughter to the pediatrician they would not test her. How could she get testing for her daughter to see if she may need medicatio . . .

Answer: Your friend might still want to check to see if her child qualifies for healthy start. She may find some useful information at jfs.ohio.gov. She may also want to contact her local mental healthy community or even her local children's hospital. Some of those agencies/providers use sliding scale fees . . .

Ask an Expert: Ghada Lteif MD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Is there a chance I have adult ADHD?

L Arnold MD, MEd — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:03:00 EST

Question: This might sound strange, but after randomly taking an ADHD test after seeing someone else take it, I was shocked to discover that it said that I had a high chance of ADHD. While I know that these online tests are not accurate, I did feel a strange feeling of relief, after doing some research. Like, . . .

Answer: There is no "test for ADHD" as such. Diagnosis depends on history of a chronic pattern of problems with attention and/or hyperactivity and impulsiveness. You should consult a mental health professional with experience in diagnosing and treating ADHD. In doing so, it would be helpful to take along . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Starting the Assessment Process

L Arnold MD, MEd — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:02:00 EST

Question: I am currently starting the assessment process for ADHD with my seven year old son. I am working with his school and have contacted his doctor to begin this process. I know my son needs more help than I can give him. I have tried coffee and behavior therapy on my own. What I am up against is that hi . . .

Answer: You present several issues, each important in its own right.

1. It is not unusual for fathers to be reluctant to admit their son has any problem. This natural reluctance is complicated if a father does not see much of his son and the son is on his best behavior for that short contact. E.g . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Medication that Does Not Interact with Lexapr

L Arnold MD, MEd — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:01:00 EST

Question: i was previously on Adderall and lexapro. i started having severe reactions such as irritablity, heart racing. shaking and disoriented which led to depression. i researched and found out that lexapro and adderall can have severe interactions with one another. is there a drug for ADD that does not ha . . .

Answer: It's a little surprising to find such a severe reaction to the combination of Adderall (an amphetamine stimulant) and Lexapro (an SSRI). They affect different neurotransmitters, and stimulants and SSRIs are commonly used together without problem. However, Lexapro may be different from other SSRIs. I . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Adderall Side Effect or Just in My Head?

L Arnold MD, MEd — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:10:00 EST

Question: I would like to thank you before I even start for answering my question. I have recently started taking Adderall 20mg for newly diagnosed Adult ADD/ADHD. I started last month on 20mg once a day. And it seemed to be working great. I try not to take it on the weekends so that I can give my body some t . . .

Answer: Shortness of breath occurring consistently for no apparent reason could either be anxiety or a side effect of the Adderall.

You did not say that you told your doctor about the shortness of breath. Let him know immediately. There have been a few recorded cases of cardiac sudden deat . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

MTBI, Medication, and Sexual Side Effects

L Arnold MD, MEd — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:10:00 EST

Question: Hi, and thank you for all your helpful responses I`ve read.

I find myself in an unexpected situation: within the past 1 1/2 years I`ve sustained two very substantial concussions within 6 mos. of each other followed by mild, chronic meningitis. I was very unable to function, cognitively or . . .

Answer: I am not an expert on traumatic brain injury (TBI) or sexual side effects; however, I know something about stimulant drugs and will provide the following:

The only sexual side effects I have heard of for stimulants like methylphenidate (e.g., Concerta, Ritalin, Focalin) and amphetami . . .

Ask an Expert: L Arnold MD, MEd, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Question on Social Skills - Should We Worry?

Ghada Lteif MD — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:09:00 EST

Question: Hi. My wife and I are a bit worried and I`m wondering if it`s because of stress or if you think we should be genuinely concerned.

Our nearly three-and-a-half year old son has strong motor and verbal skills -- he runs well, laughs, climbs stairs and speaks in understandable (though rambling!) se . . .

Answer: You have described a lot of positive and reassuring things about your son. Some of your observations maybe related to your son's temperament or possibly his social experiences and different exposures he has had so far. It would be interesting to see how things evolve as he continues to attend presch . . .

Ask an Expert: Ghada Lteif MD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder