Fine Tuning The Antenna–Small Adjustments In ADHD Medicine Can Bring A Clear Picture

As we head into the last stretches of the school year, some kids are clearly having more difficulty with focus/concentration and impulse control. Work habits are degrading and homework completion is increasingly difficult. Teachers are having to reconnect some kids to the task at hand more frequently. Others are having more impulsive behaviors toward peers . . . → Read More: Fine Tuning The Antenna–Small Adjustments In ADHD Medicine Can Bring A Clear Picture

The Cost Of Ignoring ADHD

I interviewed a young man this past week who had recently had to take a second medical withdrawal from a prestigious (and expensive) university because of debilitating symptoms of depression. It struck him in the spring semester last year (his Freshman year) and then again this fall. Over the summer, he had seemed to get . . . → Read More: The Cost Of Ignoring ADHD

Toxic Effects of Chronic Stress–Bad for Adults, Even Worse For Kids

I came across an article in the September/October 2012 issue of Scientific American MIND concerning the effect that stress can have on children and their capacity to learn. The researcher summarized years of work and ongoing studies showing the effect of stress hormones on the developing neural connections in the prefrontal cortex (the part of . . . → Read More: Toxic Effects of Chronic Stress–Bad for Adults, Even Worse For Kids

The Shortage Of Adderall . . . and the scramble for solutions

As most of you ADHD kids/moms/dads know by now, there is a shortage of Adderall products in the United States. It has simmered all summer . . . only to hit the big time now that school is in full swing (great timing, big pharma!!). It has created havoc across the area and quadrupled the calls to the already full in-box on my voice mail. Everybody is blaming everyone else . . . . . . → Read More: The Shortage Of Adderall . . . and the scramble for solutions

A Tale Of Two Kiddies . . . How Early Treatment Makes A Difference (with apologies to Charles Dickens)

I started seeing Mike when he was six years old or so. Brought in by his mother, he was having all the classic problems that a child with ADHD has. He was inattentive and distracted. He was disorganized and was losing things. He couldn’t sit still and would get in trouble for talking and playing when he was supposed to be sitting still and doing his work. He was described as “lazy” when, in reality, that “lazy” was the standard disengaged and distracted “ain’t too interested in doing something I can’t pay attention to” thing we here in mental health land can easily diagnose as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. . . . → Read More: A Tale Of Two Kiddies . . . How Early Treatment Makes A Difference (with apologies to Charles Dickens)

Accurately Diagnosing ADHD–Using The Quotient ADHD Testing System to Avoid Unnecessary Exposure to Medicine

The ambiguity of psychiatric diagnosis does not make anything easy. Especially when there is a complicated mish-mosh of symptoms that easily fit into more than one diagnostic category. And, you ARE allowed to have more than one psychiatric diagnosis. But how can I be sure that a child who presents with ADHD symptoms . . . and anxiety, and depression, and a complicated home life, and a complicated school picture . . . actually has ADHD and that the “ADHD symptoms” are not just a result of the other stuff????? . . . → Read More: Accurately Diagnosing ADHD–Using The Quotient ADHD Testing System to Avoid Unnecessary Exposure to Medicine

Adderall vs. Vyvanse and Dealing With a Difficult Doc

I have a question for you pertaining to Vyvanse and ADHD in general. I’m 23 years old and currently living in Fresno, CA, and have been diagnosed by a couple psychiatrists here and elsewhere with ADHD. One prescribed me Provigil, which seems to work alright, but also gives me bad anxiety at the doses I . . . → Read More: Adderall vs. Vyvanse and Dealing With a Difficult Doc

Vyvanse For Young Patients–Give ’em a Break???

Anne writes in with a common worry:

I have a 7 year old son that has just received a diagnosis of adhd (combined type). we adopted him when he was 4 years old. our psychiatrist has said that she feels that his severe adhd and pattern of his other behaviours are typical of someone with . . . → Read More: Vyvanse For Young Patients–Give ’em a Break???

Patience . . . Patients . . . Stay On Your Medicine Till You Talk To Your Doctor . . . PLEASE!!!

Getting started on medicine is a relatively easy decision. When folks come in to see me, things are not going well. Be it depression or anxiety or an out of control kid who is going to fail third grade, they want help . . . like NOW. I will be the first to admit that . . . → Read More: Patience . . . Patients . . . Stay On Your Medicine Till You Talk To Your Doctor . . . PLEASE!!!

Picking Between the Least Worst Options

So great to stumble upon your blog. I am a single mom of an amazing 5 year old suffering from ADHD and Sensory issues who has tried every drug in the book. But, the side effects are grueling. With Vyvanse, although his symptoms practically disappeared, he developed severe speech dis-fluency. It was just torture for . . . → Read More: Picking Between the Least Worst Options