ADHD in Older Adults: Distinct Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations
Older adults have unique needs and characteristics – including age-related cognitive changes, co-existing psychiatric and medical conditions, and more – that influence evaluation and treatment for ADHD. To better serve this population, clinicians must anticipate and understand these myriad factors.
3 Comments: ADHD in Older Adults: Distinct Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations
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I have followed Additude Magazine for years, and spent many hours (I also have OCD) reading the wonderful articles and even more valuable comments, but this is my first comment!!
I became aware of ADHD when my son was diagnosed at age seven, and I was 50 years old. Within a few months, after learning about it and thinking about my family history, I realized that both of us parents also have ADHD! I was fortunate to have gone to Dr. Daniel Amen, having been advised by my son’s former teacher already diagnosed by him. I had to get my stimulant from him for years, until my primary physician had an adult male with ADHD who needed a stimulant, at which point he also prescribed for me!
I am now 79 years old and I have had a wonderful psychiatrist since 2018, a young woman who is also ADHD, who suggested Vyvanse, and I am very happy to be taking it, along with Omega-3 fish oil and other supportive supplements.
Gardenl8ly, get yourself a new doctor, one who treats everyone equally, and doesn’t take away much needed medication! I don’t know if you have health issues which might make that a concern, but I had both hips replaced in 2019 and 2020 and recently began taking blood pressure meds, but I walk several times a week for 2 to 5 miles, and am picking up my pills at Costco tomorrow – it is a pain to have to get them in person always, and show my ID, but that’s what we get for taking a controlled substance, and it’s worth it!
I am 67 years old so my healthcare professional has deemed me too old to continue my stimulant medication. She states that this will be better for my health. Unfortunately, I am now getting more injuries from failing to notice hazards. This means I get little to no exercise, can’t keep track of my medications, and a major car crash is imminent. That is not likely to keep me or those around me alive longer. That’s okay, though (for my part), there’s not much quality of life left anymore without the medication.
I am 75 years old with hypertension and cardio vascular problems (triple bypass). I was not diagnosed as a child because I was a girl. It was an issue getting my pyschiatrists to diagnose ADHD along with bipolar but they eventually did. I took dexedrine for 40 years and changed to Vyvnanse last year. I don’t know what I would have done without the definite improvement in the quality of my life from amphetamines. They don’t do research on heart disease in women either even though it kills more women than men. When you visit a cardiologist the waiting room is full of men because they survive heart attacks women die because they don’t want to cause a fuss.