Are You on the Best Medication and Dose?

Written By Cynthia Hammer, MSW

Written by Cynthia Hammer, MSW

 

For children, there is the Conners 3 Global Index (Conners 3GI) to measure improvement. These are forms your child’s treating physician would supply to you and your child’s teachers to complete. I found the forms online—a packet of 25 costs $80.

For adults to measure improvement on medicine, use the free Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS) –Self Report. Because those of us with ADHD are poor self-observers, have others who know you well complete the form as well.  

Many people, when starting on stimulant medication, temporarily feel overstimulated—revved up and agitated.   They could have headaches, trouble falling asleep, and a loss of appetite.  Or, the side effects could be the opposite—loss of motivation, loss of facial expression, feeling flat and emotionless. 

But if the side effects continue, lower the dose or try another stimulant. Full article on using stimulants.

Cynthia Hammer, MSW

Cynthia Hammer, MSW, was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD in 1992 when she was 49 years old. The following year she created the non-profit organization, ADD Resources, with a mission to educate adults and helping professionals about ADHD in adults. She ran the organization for 15 years before retiring.

During the Covid isolation she wrote a book about her life with inattentive ADHD which should be published by the end of this year. In writing the book, she was dismayed to learn that children with inattentive ADHD continue to be under-diagnosed and adults with inattentive ADHD often are incorrectly diagnosed with depression or anxiety.

She created a new non-profit in 2021, the Inattentive ADHD Coalition (www.iadhd.org), to create more awareness about inattentive ADHD and the need for early diagnosis and treatment.

https://www.iadhd.org
Previous

Untreated ADHD = Increased Risks
Next

Fourteen Secrets of an ADHD Housekeeper