FA C T S H E E T F O R PAT I E N T S A N D FA M I L I E S

ADHD in Adults
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder. ADHD is a biological disorder that affects
how the brain works. While there is no cure for
ADHD, there are treatments and strategies for
managing your symptoms to live a more satisfying,
successful life.
People with ADHD often have trouble paying
attention, sitting still, and controlling their impulsive
behavior. Symptoms start in childhood and often
continue into adulthood. ADHD may affect some
areas of life more than others. If left untreated, What do I need to do next?
ADHD can cause you to lose your job, drop out of Consider taking a class or joining a support
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school or training, or have relationship problems. group (see page 3 for resources).

2 Find out if your insurance will cover

What are adult ADHD symptoms? ADHD counseling.
ADHD can look a little different in adults than it 3 Make a plan for managing your ADHD
does in childhood and can look different from one (see page 4).
person to the next. While not everyone faces these 4 Talk to your healthcare provider about
challenges, adults with ADHD often struggle with: whether or not you should try an ADHD
medication to help manage your symptoms.
• Putting things off and not starting or finishing tasks
on time
• Avoiding or disliking tasks that require more thinking • Not recognizing hazards, or having attention gaps
• Hurrying through work, making careless mistakes, that can increase driving risks
and not noticing details • Talking too much, interrupting others frequently,
• Losing or forgetting things frequently or not listening when someone speaks to them

• Being late, taking long breaks, and missing meetings • Becoming frustrated or losing their temper easily

• Not being able to plan and organize tasks and activities • Difficulty solving problems in relationships

• Staying seated for long periods of time or feeling Many adults have symptoms like these from time-to-
physically restless and tapping fingers or feet time, but if you have ADHD, they are more severe or
happen regularly.
• Saying or doing things without thinking

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How is ADHD diagnosed? How is ADHD treated?
To diagnose ADHD, your healthcare provider will ADHD is often treated and managed with medications,
need to get the full picture of your symptoms and education, counseling, and care coordination.
how they affect your life. They will need to check for
other conditions that sometimes occur along with Medications
ADHD. This process typically involves: Medications alone don’t completely control
• Filling out forms and answering interview questions ADHD, but they can be part of an overall solution.
about your symptoms, including what you ADHD medications can help your brain process
remember from childhood. information better so you can build new attention
and organization skills. ADHD medications affect
• Talking with someone close to you (such as a spouse
dopamine [DOH-puh-meen] or norepinephrine [nawr-
or partner, family member, or close friend) to learn
ep-uh-NEF-rin], chemicals that help your brain cells
key information about your symptoms that you
may not be aware of. communicate with each other.

• Checking to see if you have at least 5 of the

symptoms listed for some form of ADHD.
• Determining if your ADHD symptoms have a
significant negative impact (also called impairment)
in at least 2 areas of your life — work, school,
family, or relationships. Your healthcare provider
might ask to see job evaluations or grade reports, to
show how ADHD impacts you at work or school.
• Checking for other conditions that have similar
symptoms, such as depression, bipolar disorder,
thyroid problems, anxiety, substance use disorder, or
learning disabilities. It’s important to diagnose and
treat other problems before treating ADHD.
Note: Some healthcare providers are not comfortable
with diagnosing ADHD. They may recommend their
patient see a mental health provider for a more detailed
psychiatric assessment before starting any medication.

Questions for my healthcare provider about my ADHD medication

1 What am I taking and why?
_

2 When am I supposed to take it?

_
3 Can I stop taking it at any time?
_
4 Should I take more if I don’t think it’s working?
_

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There are 3 types of ADHD medications: Education
1 Stimulant medications are often tried first Learning to manage symptoms is the key to success
because they’re most effective. Examples include when you have ADHD. For education and support,
amphetamines [am-FET-uh-means] (such as Adderall or your healthcare provider may refer you to a class or
Vyvanse) and methylphenidate [meth-uhl-FEN-i-deyt] support group, such as those sponsored by:
(such as Ritalin or Concerta). Stimulants also pose
• Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD):
a potential danger for abuse or addiction. They are
www.chadd.org
“controlled substances” and are covered by special
laws. Your healthcare provider will check for a • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Utah:
history of substance abuse and will monitor the www.namiut.org
medication for your safety. (Note: It’s against the
law to share or sell a controlled substance.) Counseling
Your healthcare provider might refer you to a
2 Antidepressants that affect a certain brain
behavioral health specialist to help you improve your
chemical, norepinephrine, such as desipramine
skills. The specialist can also help you and your loved
(Norpramin), bupropion (Wellbutrin), and
ones resolve issues that may have come up as a result
venlafaxine (Effexor).
of your ADHD symptoms. (Make sure to find out if
3 Other non-stimulant medications such as your insurance plan will cover counseling.)
atomoxetine (Strattera) and guanfacine (Intuniv).
Guanfacine is a blood pressure medication that Care coordination
has been found to improve ADHD symptoms. Many primary care clinics have a Care Manager
Both of these medications are approved by the or Health Advocate to help coordinate your care
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to between your primary healthcare provider, specialists,
treat adult ADHD. and other resources (such as classes or support
For all ADHD medications, be sure to: groups). This person can help make everything
go more smoothly, and you’ll have a better result
• Follow your healthcare provider’s directions.
no matter what health problems you’re managing
• Not share your medication with anyone. (including ADHD).
• Talk to your provider about how to manage any side
effects (such as nausea, insomnia, anxiety, changes in
blood pressure, a faster heartbeat, or loss of appetite).

Resources

Books
• Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder. Edward Hallowell and
John Ratey. Touchstone 2011.
• More Attention, Less Deficit: Success Strategies for Adults with ADHD. Ari Tuckman. Specialty Press/
A.D.D. Warehouse 2009.
• Taking Charge of Adult ADHD. Russell Barkley. Guilford Press 2010.

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 My plan for managing ADHD:
Get a day planner. At work, use tricks that help you focus.
• Choose a planner that covers everything you • Look for an active job, if possible. Many people
need to organize. Whether it’s paper-based or with ADHD enjoy physically active work. If you
a phone app, make sure it has a calendar, to-do have a desk job and it’s possible to move into a
lists, and a place for reference information (such more active job, consider this change.
as phone numbers). • Divide each task into small steps. Cross each one
• As you start using a planner, take it in steps. off as you finish it.
Add all your address book information. Next, • Divide your work into short sessions — 30
try the calendar every day for a while. Then add minutes or so each time. During each session,
to-do lists. avoid all distractions and focus on one task.
• Have a daily planning session with yourself. See After 25 to 30 minutes, take a short break to
what’s coming up that day and decide which move around. Then dive in again.
tasks are most important on your to-do list.
In your relationships, educate
• Check the planner often. Carry your planner and listen.
everywhere. You may need to remind yourself to
• Help others understand your ADHD. While ADHD
check or use it — or ask someone to remind you.
isn’t a sore throat, it can be “contagious” in the
Organize your space. way it affects everyone in a relationship. Explain
An organized office or home can help you avoid how ADHD affects you. Discuss how it might
distractions and the overwhelmed feelings that a affect the relationship.
cluttered space can create. Follow these tips: • Listen to feedback, especially in conflict
• Ask someone to work with you during the situations. Stop, take a breath, and ask others
initial clean-out. Having a partner can make what they think.
the task easier. • Check in with your support system frequently.
• Organize one area at a time. Divide each When you face problems or difficult decisions,
room into small sections. Work on the easiest the people who love you can provide
section first. good advice.

• Deal with items one at a time. Decide whether

each item belongs where it is, somewhere else,
or you’re not sure. If you’re not sure, put the
item in a box and store it away for a few weeks.
• Work in short sessions. Tackle just one area in
each session. After 30 to 60 minutes, stop for the
day and reward yourself.
• Work on organizing regularly. Be patient with
yourself, but be persistent. Remember to reward
yourself along the way.

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your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. FS253 - 08/22 (Last reviewed - 08/22) Also available in Spanish. 4