ADHD, Let’s Talk About That

This post is part of a paid sponsorship by Shire Pharmaceuticals. All opinions are my own.

 

I don’t remember Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) being taken that seriously when I was young. I’m not sure if that’s because I was young and not thinking about and paying attention to things like that or if it’s because it wasn’t as commonly diagnosed, treated, and especially talked about. Either way I didn’t think much about it until close friends and family were diagnosed with ADHD and then I felt like this may be something I need to better understand.

My own son is pretty mellow and laid back most of the time. He does super well in some things like school and so-so in others. (It’s cool – geometry in High School got me too…twice.) My nephew on the other hand, who is four days younger than my son and has been diagnosed with ADHD, he’s the complete opposite. Always going, going, going, especially when he was younger and certainly before his parents considered treatment options for him. Focus…what is that? I’ll admit, learning how to understand him, how to best deal with his antics and being very hyper and impulsive in comparison to my own son, was tough for me because I’d never had to face the challenge directly with someone I cared about before. My nephew has definitely taught me patience and he’s also taught me that ADHD is not something anyone should try to hide. ADHD is a chronic mental disorder which includes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It’s estimated that 10.5 million adults and 6.4 million children in the U.S. are living with ADHD, so there’s a good chance that it impacts someone you know. ADHD is a real medical condition and is nothing to be ashamed of. Different does not equal bad and that is something I’ve worked very hard to help my nephew realize.

You know what else is not bad? Working with doctors to find ways to help you, or someone you know manage their ADHD. Sometimes those management techniques don’t include medication and sometimes they do. Medication may not be right for all people with ADHD, so it’s important to work with your doctor. There are a lot of differing perspectives on ADHD and treatment, but I personally think that working with your doctor to evaluate options is the most important thing, and you should utilize whatever treatment plan works best for you. Although there is no cure for ADHD, there are accepted treatments that have demonstrated improvement in ADHD symptoms.

Today there is a more advanced clinical awareness and understanding of ADHD and the management needs of individual patients, including having long-acting treatment options available, and I encourage everyone to talk to their doctor and learn more about them. One of those is Mydayis® (mixed salts of a single-entity amphetamine product), an FDA-approved, extended release treatment option for the treatment of ADHD in patients 13 years and older. It’s important to know that Mydayis is not for children 12 years and younger. Only a trained healthcare provider can diagnose ADHD. I believe it’s worth talking to your doctor about Mydayis if you or someone you know is diagnosed with ADHD to see if it may be right for you. You never know, it could be a decision that helps manage their ADHD symptoms. Remember, Mydayis and other stimulant medicines have a high chance for abuse and dependence. Your doctor should check you or your child for signs of abuse and dependence before and during treatment with Mydayis. It is important to know that Mydayis is a federally controlled substance because it contains amphetamine. You’ll find more safety info below.

 

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