Adult attention deficit disorder and taking medications: Is there really a such thing?
And if adult ADD is a valid disorder, then should adults take ADD medications?
After all, when people hear about attention deficit disorder, they typically think of children and adolescents, even teens, and assume that by adulthood, folks have figured out a way to combat attention deficits.
To see what his perspective was on whether adults with ADD symptoms should take medications, I interviewed Joe Wegmann, psychopharmacologist and licensed clinical social worker, author of Psychopharmacology: Straight Talk on Mental Health Medications.
Wegmann responds: “Absolutely, adults should take ADHD drugs. Seventy percent of those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD in childhood or adolescence go on to experience symptoms in adulthood.
Many adults do however, ‘outgrow’ the hyperactivity/impulsivity component of this disorder, and develop compensatory behavioral adaptation skills to manage the distractibility and inattentiveness components of the disorder.”
Do you believe that the drug companies have inflated the idea that ADD is a “real” disorder amongst adults, and that it’s just a profit-driving game to market ADD drugs towards adults?
After all, quite a few adults would meet the criteria on those very broad ADHD/ADD symptom checklists.
Wegmann replies: “What drug companies do to influence profits will never surprise me. However, drug companies haven’t expanded criteria for ADD/ADHD in adults, as there aren’t different criteria as one ages.
“Simply, the criteria are what they are. Clinically, I think it is accurate to say that the ‘adult’ attention deficit disorder market is under-served compared to the child and adolescent market.
“Most adults ‘outgrow’ the hyperactivity and impulsivity components to a manageable degree.
Also many adults that present to offices such as mine actually meet criteria for attention deficit disorder but were NEVER diagnosed during their childhood or adolescent years.
Sure, pharma is trying to capitalize on this, but they’ve got the aforementioned stats I mentioned above to back their claims.”
I’d think that people over 18 should try to manage ADD symptoms without drugs.
Wegmann continues: “Although adults in general do have more sophisticated compensatory and adaptability skills for managing these symptoms compared to children and adolescents, I have had many adults come through my practice with severe distractibility problems, and these folks should be on meds.
Honestly, in this instance, I don’t think adult prevalence of this disorder is over-exaggerated.”
If you’re an adult with ADD symptoms, I’m not suggesting you go on medication, and I’m not suggesting that you don’t.
I am simply the messenger here, and your best bet is to review all options, and evaluate a risk-benefit ratio when it comes to attention deficit disorder medications.
Joseph Wegmann
