IT'S ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MILLION ADULTS IN THE U.S. HAVE ADHD, BUT MOST REMAIN UNDIAGNOSED OR UNTREATED
LENARD ADLER, MD: We think only about one in four adults are diagnosed and treated. And the fact that adults are not being diagnosed and treated creates a substantial burden for the individual in society.
AN UNDIAGNOSED OR UNTREATED ADULT CAN EXPERIENCE GREAT DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE
WILLIAM DODSON, MD: There are a lot of consequences for not treating ADHD. And just running through them real quickly, if you have untreated ADHD, your risk of developing a substance use diagnosis quadruples, your risk of an injury-producing accident severe enough to have produced a hospital record quadruples, your risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases go up fourfold. And the risk of an unplanned out-of-wedlock pregnancy go up tenfold.
ADLER Driving is now something that's coming forward in terms of the impairments for adults with A - untreated ADHD and we know they're more likely to have more accidents, more severe motor vehicle accidents, more speeding tickets.
MANY TIMES THE MOTIVATION FOR TREATMENT WILL COME FROM SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE PATIENT
WILLIAM DODSON, MD: When a child is brought in by the parents, it's the parents having the motivation for treatment. The same with an adolescent. And very often with adults, it's the significant other, the spouse who really is the one saying, "Look, you've got to get in there and get this fixed."
ONCE DIAGNOSED, THE FIRST LINE OF TREATMENT IS STIMULANT MEDICATIONS
DAVID W. GOODMAN, MD: The efficacy of stimulants is very high. That is, stimulant medications for ADHD are amongst the most effective medications for any psychiatric indication in psychiatry.
LENARD ADLER, MD: The FDA approved medications for adult ADHD include the amphetamine preparation Adderall XR and the methylphenidate preparation, Focalin XR, and the non-stimulant, which is Strattera.
LIKE ALL MEDICATIONS, THERE CAN BE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH STIMULANTS
DAVID W. GOODMAN, MD: The typical side effects with stimulant medications are dry mouth, mild constipation, headaches, difficulty falling asleep and decreased appetite.
