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To find out what this new approval means for the millions of adults with ADHD, HealthNewsDigest.com went straight to ADHD expert Marshall Teitelbaum, M.D., a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist in Jupiter, Florida. Here's what we found out. HND: How do ADHD symptoms differ among children and adults? MT: "The core symptoms are generally the same such as distractibility and impulsivity. Children are more likely to have overt hyperactivity, while adults are more likely to have an internal restlessness. The hyperactivity may be less or the adult may develop other means to compensate for it. In childhood, ADHD interferes with academics, behavior and socialization. Adults with ADHD may have problems getting along with co-workers, maintaining jobs, difficulty with personal relationships and little things like paying bills on time and getting projects done. There are also higher risks for driving problems, such as more moving traffic violations and accidents. The bottom line is that ADHD is not just an academic issue and the way symptoms manifest themselves may change with age. HND: Can you grow out of ADHD? MT: "Unfortunately, not usually. It's not as easy as trading ADHD for a diploma when you graduate high school. As many as 80 percent of kids will still have ADHD as adults." HND: What does an adult with ADHD look like? MT: "They may have careers that are fast paced and high-pressured so they can't be distracted as easily. This compares with how a hyperactive child can play video games for hours on end but can't sit at the dinner table. Adults with ADHD often outsource tedious tasks, are also more likely to be self -employed or have trouble maintaining their careers. Most people with ADHD don’t do much reading except for short articles and on-line information/communications. Keep in mind that the issue is not of an inability to pay attention but more of a required intensity level so that the person is not so easily distracted." HND: Is it ever too late to treat ADHD? MT: "No. It is only too late to change what has happened in the past, but it is not too late to treat the condition. You can't just rewind the fact that you did poorly in school, got divorced or have had certain problems, but if you start treating ADHD at any age, you will start seeing benefits. It's akin to not realizing you needed glasses until you were 30. Getting glasses at age 30 is not going to hurt you and may turn around a lot in your life. There is no time or date that is too late to begin treatment for ADHD." HND: What advice would you give adults with ADHD about seeking treatment? MT: "Be honest with yourself and look at the ways that ADHD might really be affecting you and how much difference treating it could make in your individual life as well as relationships with your children, significant other, friends and coworkers." HND: How will medication help an adult with ADHD? MT: "Medication can help with impulse-control, anger management and organization. Adults can become much more patient, but not in a way that makes them dull. They will be better able to think first and react second. Benefits will extend well beyond the work setting. They will be better able to keep up with day-to-day tasks and not so likely to lose things like glasses, wallets, keys, cell phones, and blackberries. They will also be more likely to be on time." HND: ADHD tends to run in families. If one family member responds well to a certain drug like VYVANSE, is it then more likely that his or her relatives will respond to the same medication? In my experience, yes. However, there are no studies to confirm this type of genetic response. HND: What is different about the newly approved drug compared with other treatments on the market for adults with ADHD? MT: "Studies show that VYVANSE might cover individuals for a longer period of time. It has a consistent effect on symptoms until the early evening. In a clinical study, VYVANSE was shown to significantly improve, within the first week, ADHD symptoms in adults such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It is also the first "pro drug" for ADHD. A pro-drug has an inactive precursor that must undergo chemical conversion by bodily processes before becoming active. VYVANSE has an amino acid attached so the medication will only be activated in the digestive system." HND: Along with medication, structure and regular routines are really important for kids with ADHD. What about adults? MT: "Developing routines, such as setting aside certain days of the week or times of the day to do certain tasks, may lessen the risk of tasks not being done. Many already have routines in place in an effort to compensate, but often have a much higher anxiety level as a consequence." HND: If you think you need treatment, where should you turn? MT: "Many primary care physicians will address ADHD and others will not. Whether seeing a primary care physician or psychiatrist, discuss your symptoms with a doctor to see whether your situation meets criteria for ADHD. There are many good medications available now. Although a lot of people are fearful of medication, it is important to keep in mind how much better the quality of life can be. I find that the only fear level that is greater than the thought of starting a medication at the initial visit is the prospect that I might want to remove it a later visit after having had such dramatic benefits. " www.HealthNewsDigest.com Top of Page 
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