National Center for Gender Issues in AD/HD

 

I have recently been diagnosed with ADD and I strongly suspect my daughter has ADHD as well. I am the inattentive type and seem to need a lot of down time. I do things slowly and get sidetracked very easily. My daughter on the other hand is very active, demanding and wants almost constant attention. She is only 5. She is too young to understand that I have great difficulty doing even 2 things at once. I truly need advice on how to focus on my chores while never forgetting that raising my daughter lovingly is by far my most important goal. Anyway if you have any advice for me I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

---

Dear Mom with ADD,

You’ve done a great job of describing how AD/HD looks in a hyperactive, demanding girl as well as in her inattentive, slower-paced mother who needs downtime. We suspect …

Do you have any information on ADD meds and compatibility with breastfeeding? I need to continue breastfeeding my daughter (5mo) due to food allergy issues, but I also need to function in my job, which, due to a recent increase in job demands, is getting very difficult. I can only pass my inattention off as sleep deprivation for so long and my non-med coping strategies aren’t cutting it. I don’t want to have to tell my employer that I have trouble with ADD because it, well, sounds so needy to me.

I finally landed a wonderful job with great insurance and found a fabulous family practitioner who feels comfortable prescribing stimulant medication, but now I am faced with a dilemma about risk/benefits of ADD meds and breastfeeding. Is there any information out there that may shed some light?
VR

Dear VR:
Breastfeeding is critically important to the bonding experience of …

The drug guanfacine is now approved for sale in the United States by Shire, a pharmaceutical company from England. The ADHD medication is marketed under the name Intuniv. The drug has been given the go-ahead for children age 6 to 17. Prescription strengths include 1 mg (milligram), 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg. The pill is available as extended release and need only be taken once a day.

Shire is adding this as their fourth medication to be marketed in the U.S. for ADD and ADHD symptoms. Their other ADD and ADHD medications include Adderall XR, Vyvanse, and Daytrana.

Because it is non-stimulant, Intuniv addresses some of the concerns many parents have with other types of ADHD medications, including lack of sleep and inability to gain weight. According to Mike Cola, President of Shire Specialty Pharmaceuticals," Intuniv is part of an overall approach toward managing ADHD and may help …